adminMunyaradzi Musiiwa in Gweru
Chapungu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ( ) 2
Tsholotsho . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 1
Ten-MAN Chapungu held their nerves when playing with a man down for much of the second half to beat a determined Tsholotsho 2-1 in a Castle Larger Premiership match at Ascot yesterday.
Collen Kwaramba was given a straight red card just a minute into the second half after felling Nixon Gama inside the box.
From the resultant penalty captain William Sitima sent Roy Mazingi the wrong way, but the hosts won the day through goals from Tineyi Chitora and Patrick Khumbula.
Chapungu were first to score through Chitora who stabbed home with a low shot finishing off a move from Hillary Mugoniwa in the 22nd minute.
Waru Waru as the airmen are fondly known could have increased the lead after 42 minutes when Philip Marufu was set up in the box by Xolani Ncube, but his shot missed the target by inches.
The visitors, however, levelled the proceedings just a minute after the interval from the penalty spot through captain Sitima after Gama was brought down inside the box by Kwaramba who was subsequently given his marching orders by referee Norman Matemere.
John Nyikadzino improvised by bringing in Patrick Khumbula in the 64th pulling out Allen Tavarwisa and his strategy seemed to have worked as Khumbula restored Chapungu’s lead five minutes after his introduction when his shot struck on the turn, whistled past Nickel Marichi in goals for Tsholotsho.
A spirited Tsholotsho continued probing their opponents attacking from all flanks, but their efforts were in vain.
In the 73rd minute substitute Simbarashe Gorogodyo saw his long range shot from outside the box tipped over the bar by Mazingi.
Ten minutes later Kriess Chitiyo came close to scoring when he unleashed a thunderbolt from the edge of the box which, however, flew over the bar.
Gorogodyo came back to probe in the optional time when he got a long pass from the back and fired a shot, but he found Mazingi equal to the task.
Nyikadzino paid tribute to his charges for putting a gallant show despite being a man down.
“I am happy with the performance of my boys considering that we played the entire second half with 10 men. This is a good result for us and it borders well with our objective of finishing among the top eight,” he said.
His counterpart, Lizwe Sweswe lamented the loss saying his charges should have fought for at least a point.
“We wanted a point or three unfortunately we didn’t come out good. We are in the relegation zone and we have to pick points in every game we play and not to rely on what other teams are doing, ” Sweswe said.
Teams
Chapungu: R Mazingi, C Mativenga, H Mugoniwa, C Kwaramba, B Mbavarira,
W Ngonya, X Ncube (M Mavuto 75 min), G Phiri, P Marufu, T Chitora, A Tavarwisa (P Khumbula 64 min)
Tsholotsho: N Marichi, M Phiri, N Moyo (S Khoz 76 min), T Ncube, W Sitima, B Ncube, K Chitiyo (S Gorogodyo 10 min), J Luphahla, N Gama, L Chikuhwa.
Online Reporter