Online Reporter
Zimpapers Sports Hub
FOR over 80 minutes, newboys FC Hunters looked to be cantering to their maiden Castle Lager Premier Soccer League win.
On their part, log leaders CAPS United, who played second fiddle for a large part of the game, looked to be heading for their second defeat of the season and first at Rufaro.
But in the end, coaches Nesbert “Yabo’’ Saruchera for Hunters and CAPS United’s Takesure Chiragwi were left to settle for a 1-1 stalemate.
It was also a frustrating afternoon for champions Scottland on the road where they were restricted to a goalless draw by Bulawayo Chiefs at Barbourfields, while 2023 kings Ngezi Platinum Stars were forced into a share of the spoils of a 1-1 draw against battling Triangle at Baobab.
There were no such fightbacks for Agama and TelOne, whose poor start to the season continued.
Agama fell to fellow newcomers Hardrock, who handed them a 1-0 defeat via reigning Soccer Star of the Year Washington Navaya’s strike at Chahwanda, while Herbert “Jompano’’ Maruwa’s woes continued to mount as his winless TelOne suffered a 2-0 home defeat against Chicken Inn at Ascot.
Benhura equaliser rescues CAPS Utd
But it was at Rufaro where Hunters were left wondering how they let it slip when they seemed to be on course to become the fist team to beat CAPS United at Rufaro this season.
In an entertaining match that was also watched by Warriors coach Marian Marinica, former Ngezi players Richard Hachiro and Takunda Benhura combined to cancel midfielder Tadiwa Huni’s brilliant goal for Hunters.
Huni’s goal, a first-time volley off a cross by the impressive Elder Chirima, thrust the debutants ahead after 37 minutes. He exploited the gaps left by CAPS United, who employed a 3-5-2 formation.
Makepekepe, who came back from the break a rejuvenated side, equalised when Benhura headed home a cross by skipper Hachiro eight minutes from time.
Before the match, CAPS United were the bookmakers’ favourites, but ended up appreciating the point they walked away with from the game.
“Definitely, we have gained a point. And I think we also need to appreciate the opposition. They were also good,” Chiragwi told the media.
Yet it was a game of two halves.
Hunters dominated the first, while CAPS United were the better side in the second stanza.
But Chiragwi acknowledged some shortcomings from his charges.
“We were coming short on the second balls, even the movement and everything,” he said.
“At the end of the day, we just needed to make sure we are CAPS United and we had to come back strong and make sure we try to get the points that we wanted. The point will add value to what we have.”
With the draw, CAPS moved to 16 points from seven games, with yesterday’s draw being FC Hunters’ fifth in seven matches.
They are yet to win in the Premiership.
The debutants had a loud shout for a penalty late in the game when Nyasha Gurende appeared to handle in the box.
CAPS United also thought they had won a penalty when it looked like Hunters’ skipper Ronald Pfumbidzai had handled under pressure, but again the referee would have none of it
“I want to thank the supporters for coming to watch the match,” said Saruchera.
“I think we gave them entertainment.”
Chiefs frustrate Scottland
Bulawayo Chiefs stood firm and denied champions Scottland in a cagey, hard-fought stalemate at Barbourfields, where discipline and structure won the day over flair.
Scottland had the ball for long stretches, moved it well and looked in control without ever truly threatening.
Chiefs, compact and patient, sat in and waited. It was not pretty, but it worked.
From the start, the visitors dictated tempo, building from the back and probing for openings that never quite came.
Chiefs held their shape, kept their lines tight and forced Scottland into hopeful efforts from distance.
In midfield, Melikhaya Ncube gave Chiefs some calm whenever they broke forward.
He kept things ticking and tried to release runners, but clear chances remained scarce against a Scottland defence that rarely lost its footing.
Walter Musona tried to lift his side, dropping deep, carrying the ball and looking to spark something.
Ngezi cling on for a point at Baobab
Ngezi clung on at Baobab Stadium, escaping with a point after a lively Triangle United side pushed them to the edge.
For long spells, it felt like the hosts were hanging on rather than dictating, especially in a first half where Triangle created enough chances to put the game beyond reach.
Ngezi still found a way to strike first.
Gomezgani Chirwa rose to head home Tanaka Munemo’s cross in the 57th minute, a goal that came slightly against the run of play and briefly settled nerves on the home bench.
But Triangle had been the better side for much of the afternoon and eventually got what their performance deserved.
Substitute Stephen Zhogi levelled matters with a composed finish, placing the ball beyond the reach of a fully stretched Darlington Musariranwa after more sustained pressure from the visitors.
Hardrock forced to work hard
Hardrock stretched their winning run, but had to survive a second-half storm from Agama before grinding out their win.
Although Navaya’s first-half header settled it, the scoreline barely tells the full story of a game that swung wildly after the break.
Hardrock started with intent, pushing Agama deep and asking early questions down both flanks.
Sambulo Simelane tested Wilson Brown from a tight angle and the goalkeeper responded well, while Wilfred Manzungu’s quick feet unsettled the visitors’ backline.
Agama grew into the contest, with Ralph Nyamupurika firing over from the edge of the box before the visitors began to string together patient spells of possession.
The breakthrough came from a familiar route.
Tinashe Mashaireni delivered a teasing corner and Navaya rose unmarked, drifting in from behind the defence to power home the header.
Gamecocks pile pressure on Jompano
Chicken Inn tightened the screws on TelOne coach Maruwa, with a clinical 2-0 win at Ascot, their second straight victory and a result that exposed the hosts’ growing fragility at home.
Goals in either half from David Ngnwo Hapko and Genius Hute told the story, ruthless finishing from a side learning to take their chances, and familiar wastefulness from their hosts who are still searching for answers to an awful start to the term
For TelOne, it is becoming a pattern they cannot shake.
In yesterday’s match they started brightly and should have led early.
Nqobizitha Masuku rose highest to meet a corner on 19 minutes, his header crashing against the upright with the goalkeeper beaten.
Moments later, Panashe Mtasa tested Taimon Mvula with a fierce strike from range, forcing a sharp save as the visitors struggled to settle.
But where TelOne hesitated, Chicken Inn were decisive and, in the end, it was the Gamecocks running away with the three points.
