adminLiberty Dube in Mutare Buffaloes 3-2 Harare City
LLOYD Katongomara’s superb volley in the 90th minute ensured a well-deserved victory for Buffaloes against a rejuvenated Harare City side in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match played at Sakubva Stadium yesterday.
It was quite a relief for Moses “Bambo” Chunga’s side which last collected maximum points against Triangle a month ago.
The army side won 3-2 in a match they deserved to score a dozen goals had the blunt strikeforce led by Jacob Muzokomba utilised all the chances that came their way.
It was, however, a tale of missed chances by both teams with Harare City’s Francisco Zvikumbawire being the villain of the day. The Sunshine Boys opened the scoring in the 15th minute after midfielder James Jam took advantage of a Buffaloes defensive boob and scored an easy goal after he received a pass from the exciting midfielder Talent Chawapiwa.
The wounded army side, affectionately known as Watungwa Watungwa, regained their touch a few minutes later and their hard work paid off five minutes later after Admire Dzumbunu scored in the 20th minute through a set piece.
Harare City goalkeeper Maxwell Nyamupanedengu was the busier of the two shot stoppers in the first half of the game and made some fine saves. Former Monomotapa FC striker Osborne Mukuradare came in for Martin Vengesai in the 40th minute after the latter suffered an injury.
Buffaloes also lost influential defender Liberty Chakoroma after he slipped and sustained an injury just before half time.
After the breather, Buffaloes’ strikers missed a glut of clear cut chances, a notable one being in the 58th minute after Dzumbunu received a defence-splitting pass from right-back Moses Gutu. The evergreen Gutu who was exciting all day, created many chances but was let down by an impotent strikeforce.
Buffaloes scored their second goal in the 65th minute through Muzokomba after he received a splendid pass from Prosper “Zhakie” Matizanadzo.
From then on, Harare City started attacking from all angles. Buffaloes apparently relaxed and their lethargic performance in the last 15 minutes of the game backfired after substitute Mukuradare fired home a brilliant goal, taking advantage of Tafadzwa Mombeshora and Matizanadzo’s mistake. The two Buffaloes players failed to communicate and Mukuradare took advantage of the communication breakdown and equalised.
The goal infuriated the army side who desperately needed a win in front of impatient home supporters.
In the 90th minute, Buffaloes striker and former Black Rhinos goal poacher Kastigu Juwakinyu dribbled past two Harare City defenders and passed to Katongomara who unleashed a thunderbolt past Nyamupanedengu.
While Chunga was a relieved man after the hard-fought win, his counterpart Masimba Dinyero laid blame on the match officials for alleged biased officiating as well as the bumpy pitch.
“We were robbed by the match officials. Our player Martin Vengesai was injured because of Buffaloes FC’s recklessness but their players were never booked. However, my players did well under the circumstances but failed to utilise a glut of chances that came their way,” said Dinyero.
Chunga was a satisfied man after the result.
“It was going to be difficult if we had lost this match. At least we’re drifting away from relegation. Our defenders made a lot of blunders and we’ll work on that,” said the nomadic gaffer.
Buffaloes now have 36 points and are now eyeing a top eight finish.
derick.khumalo