Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
CAPS United . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 2
MWOS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 2
CAPS United stretched their lead at the top of the Premiership table by two points, but they would feel they bottled the points up against 10-man MWOS in this Castle Lager Premier Soccer League stalemate at Rufaro yesterday.
But this was a thriller of a game with just about everything in the dish: a red card, several cautions, four goals, one of which is a contender for goal of the season, eye-catching tactics and good saves.
Yet the climax came right in time added on, MWOS appearing to seal it off with a double-scorer and substitute Billy Veremu curling home what looked like a certain winner, CAPS United fought back and Talent Chamboko scored with virtually the last kick of the game.
Takunda Benhura had given CAPS United the lead with 17 minutes to play, five minutes after MWOS had been reduced to 10 men when Godfrey Manase received a second yellow.
The Green Machine looked as if they would sting their guests even further.
But MWOS coach Lloyd Mutasa had other ideas when he introduced Veremu in a bid to rescue the game.
And Veremu duly delivered, and with a bit of luck could have actually won the game with his spectacular goal at the death but CAPS United showed a lot of character when they rescued the point with the last action of the match.
Before the thrilling last 20 minutes of the game, the match was a bit flat, and that was understandable given both teams were coming from high-intensity fixtures which they respectively won over the weekend.
MWOS had beaten Chicken Inn 1-0 at Ngoni, while Makepekepe had won 2-1 in the Harare derby showdown against Dynamos a day later.
And players from both ends looked drained and perhaps too tired to bury good chances which came their way, especially in the first half.
“We knew it was going to be difficult because of the last game that we played. I think they lost a lot of energy.
“They were so exhausted because of the high intensity game that we played on Sunday.
“So, we just wanted to contain them and make sure we get one or two opportunities like what we did,” said CAPS United coach Takesure Chiragwi.
“But unfortunately, when we thought it was done, there was just a slip-up from the defence in terms of lack of concentration. But I understand because, like I’m saying, when the game is going to the end of 90 minutes, the players also get tired in terms of concentration.”
Chiragwi lauded his players’ never-say-die attitude.
“We are happy about the spirit. They always have that fighting spirit. And when we conceded again the second goal, they got motivated because they didn’t want to lose.
“And that was it. This is the character that we need from the players.
“At the end of the day, we respect the point that we got. The fighting spirit of the players, all the energy, and the effort that they are putting in just need to be appreciated. And for today (yesterday) we thank God for that one point. I think it was for today. So, we are happy.’’
Mutasa was somewhere between excited and disappointed, especially given what transpired at the end.
“I want to say thumbs up to both the teams. It was a tough encounter. I’ve always said there’s no easy fixture in the PSL, and CAPS United being on top of the log, they are motivated to stay there.
“But we, as MWOS as well, said to ourselves, CAPS United haven’t beaten us. And at the same time we have never won a match at Rufaro, let’s try and break the jinx,” said Mutasa.
“There’s always the first time. But as the game progressed, you saw what happened.
“We were a man down. They then scored. And because of the resilience of these youngsters and the effort, we came back into the game.
“We took the lead. But with probably a cross that as a coach, I thought would have been dealt with well, we gave it to the opposition, and they got the equaliser. But you cannot blame the youngsters.
“Football is a game of mistakes. At times you learn the hard way, and the hard way is how we are going to learn from such a situation.”
CAPS United are now on 26 points after 12 games, two above second-placed Hardrock, who lost 1-0 against Highlanders in what was their first defeat at their Chahwanda home.
Teams:
CAPS United: Wallace Magalane, Brian Kadamanja, Nyasha Gurende, Kudzai Chigwida, Talent Chamboko, Obriel Chirinda (Davison Marowa 80min), Richard Hachiro, Dominic Njaliwa (Kennedy Mupomba 62min), Chawanangwa Kaonga (Bret Amidu 62min), Takunda Benhura, Ishmael Wadi (Phineas Bamusi 80min)
MWOS: Tedious Baye, Jeremiah Makangira (Mathew Murambiwa, 68 min) Innocent Zambezi, Wilson Mensah, Aristotle Manyamba (Billy Veremu 83min), Nigel Makumbe (Marcelline Mlilo 40 min), Principe Magondo (74 min), Reginald Chinemo, Clive Kwangwari, Malvin Mudzuka (68 min), Tinotenda Mutyambizi, Godfrey Manase, Valentine Katsande
