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Caps United 0-2 Chapungu
CAPS United Mark Harrison says Makepekepe had no one to blame but themselves after the side put up a lethargic show and crashed to their first home defeat at the hands of in-form Chapungu in a Castle Lager Premiership soccer match at the National Sports Stadium yesterday.
The loss, which comes in the background of serious in-house problems that have threatened to ground the club, left scores of irate Caps United supporters thronging the players’ exit seeking for answers from the club’s superiors.
Harrison described his team’s performance as “poor” after Tineyi Chitora and Gift Phiri got the goals for the visitors either side of the break.
Chitora capitalised on poor marking by the Caps United defenders to tap in the ball following a good work by Allen Tavarwisa.
Centre back Carlton Munzabwa literally escorted Tavarwisa into the box before the former Monomotapa and Dynamos player laid the ball for Chitora in the 20th minute.
Chitora could have turned provider about 10 minutes later when he spotted Rodwell Mhlanga whose sizzling shot just missed the mark from the edge of the box.
But Makepekepe had dominated the opening minutes with workaholic Leonard Tsipa coming close when he controlled the ball inside the box but his shot went straight into the arms of goalkeeper Roy Mazingi.
The veteran striker also missed a good chance when he flew his header wide off target just after the hour mark.
Makepekepe were a better side in the second half but their efforts were deflated when Chapungu got them on a counter-attack engineered by Chitora and Tavarwisa in the 73rd minute.
Chapungu midfielder Phiri controlled the final pass and unleashed a low shot that beat goalkeeper Criss Mverechena from the edge of the box.
Harrison said they were “killed” in the first half.
The Briton said his team had a “shocking” performance in the opening 45 minutes and it was too late to salvage anything by the time they tried to settle down in the second half.
“(In the) first half we didn’t turn up, we were very poor. We just didn’t perform. I mean, we were lazy, we were slow, we were sluggish, we were poor on the ball. We didn’t even try to play. I said to the goalkeeper what you are doing is just smashing the ball forward. We were just poor, poor all round in the first half. I couldn’t pick anybody out who had a decent game,” said Harrison. “So we said a few words at half-time. In the second half I think we were a little bit better. I think we tried to get the game a little bit more at them but in the end you can’t give away two silly goals like we did.”
While Makepekepe were mourning, the result meant that Chapungu continued with their good run of form as they extended their unbeaten run to seven games.
Chapungu coach John Nyikadzino said they didn’t want to read much into Caps United’s problems as they wanted to focus on winning the game and ensure they completed a turn around the corner by rising to fourth place on the log.
“We went for the first three games without a goal, without a win. We had managed only a draw against How Mine. The players and the supporters also had confidence in me. We were trying various new combinations. Now the players are gelling well we are looking forward to even better performances,” said Nyikadzino.
Teams
Caps United: C. Mverechena, V. Musarurwa, D. Mukandi, C. Munzabwa, S. Makatuka, G. Nyirenda (J. Ngodzo, 60th minute), M. Muchenje, G. Mangani (T. Muskwe, 36th minute), T. Mahori (K. Nyamupfukudza, 46th minute), G. Phiri, L. Tsipa
Chapungu: R. Mazingi, W. Ngonya, H. Mugoniwa, M. Muchangani, B. Zabula, C. Kwaramba, R. Mhlanga (P. Marufu, 53rd minute), G. Phiri, N. Ncube (M. Dikinya, 65th minute), T. Chitora (N. Murisa, 79th minute), A. Tavarwirsa
Online Reporter