adminhosts Blue Rangers’ relegation woes in a dull match at Gwanzura yesterday.
Maziwisa, who fired blanks against bitter rivals FC Platinum during the mid-week derby, headed home from a corner kick with six minutes remaining after Rangers had taken an unlikely lead through an own goal by Shabanie Mine defender Boniface Dimanji.
But, save for the goals, which came late into the game, there was not much to write home about as the two teams struggled to keep the game flowing for the better part of the afternoon.
With no meaningful build-ups taking place at both ends, it appeared the match could end goalless.
But Rangers’ second half substitute Macdonald Motsi made a spirited run into the box and sent in a low cross that Dimanji could only put past his diving goalkeeper Roy Mazingi in a vain attempt to clear the lines.
Shabanie, however, had better chances earlier in the game and thought they stolen the lead in the 13th minute when stand-in skipper Caleb Masocha headed in Erea Phiri’s freekick from the middle but the goal was disallowed for offside.
Maziwisa could have broken the deadlock in the 45th minute but he disappointingly shot wide with goalkeeper Pedzisai Gumiremhete at his mercy after the Rangers defenders had done a pathetic job from the corner.
They came close again in the 58th minute but Philip Sithole had his effort cleared from the line by Takesure Chiragwi in a crowded box.
But Rangers found themselves on top against run of play when Dimanji miscued his clearance past goalkeeper Roy Mazingi in the 76th minute.
Maziwisa, who had a quiet day in the office, then out-jumped the Rangers defenders to restore parity from a corner kick in the 84th minute.
With the defeat Rangers, who sit third from the bottom on the log table, edged closer to relegation on 25 points with two crucial matches against Hwange and Highlanders remaining.
Shabanie coach Luke Masomere was disappointed by the standard of play from both teams on the afternoon.
Masomere had no kind words for his charges as the Chinda Boys continued with their downward spiral on the log standings.
Shabanie have only managed five points in their last seven outings and they slipped one place down the ladder to sixth.
“If someone had come here for the first time and tell him that these are Premiership teams it would be difficult for him to believe that.
“It was a case of two very bad teams playing against each other and sharing the spoils.
“In the end, I think the draw was the fairest result considering how poorly these teams played,” said Masomere.
Teams
Blue Rangers – P. Gumiremhete, H. Chombe, T. Chiragwi, J. Marufu, P. Marazanye, K. Mazhambe, E. Kopeni (M. Motsi, 58th minute), T. Munetsi, N. Mukwezaramba (T. Muparaganda, 58th minute), S. Hadebe, D. Temwanjira
Shabanie Mine – R. Mazingi, P. Sithole, R. Sibanda, W. Ngonya, S. Choenda, B. Dimanji, P. Zimunya, E. Phiri (C. Gumbura), T. Rukanda (F. Mususunye, 46th minute) C. Masocha (F. Kanda, 61st minute), N. Maziwisa
leeroy