Online Reporter
Innocent Kurira, Zimpapers Sports Hub
Chicken Inn 1-1 caps United
CHICKEN Inn were left kicking themselves after letting a precious lead vanish in a 1–1 draw with CAPS United at Luveve Stadium yesterday.
The result did little to ease their relegation worries, with just two matches left in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season. The GameCocks sit 11th on 37 points, level with Highlanders and Manica Diamonds, who are also not safe. CAPS United, in ninth with 39 points, remain nervously within reach of the drop zone.
Michael Charamba appeared to have given Chicken Inn the lifeline they needed when he struck in the 69th minute, tucking home from close range after George Majika’s weaving run sliced through the visitors’ defence. But the joy was short lived. Just three minutes later, Ishmael Wadi rose highest to nod home a Junior Bunjira cross, silencing the home crowd and salvaging a point for Makepekepe.
Chicken Inn assistant coach Philani Mabhena could hardly hide his frustration.
“We are disappointed. I thought the game was ours. We had better chances in the first half going into the second half. We scored the goal and we went to sleep a bit, but we take the point though we should have won the game. We have two tough games coming up against Ngezi Platinum away and Highlanders at home. We just hope we do not get to the last game in a tight situation,” said Mabhena.
His opposite number, CAPS United coach Ian Bakala, saw it differently.
“I think for us a point is enough. Playing away from home we knew it was going to be a difficult game. We had planned for this. I think it’s a fair result. The guys really did well despite the draw,” he said.
Chicken Inn started brightly, with Brian Muza testing Kwaku Stephen Odai early. Moments later, Phenias Bamusi surged down the right and delivered a teasing cross that Wadi couldn’t connect with. In the 10th minute, Majika slipped a neat pass to Lynoth Chikuhwa, but the striker’s heavy touch wasted a golden opening.
The GameCocks dominated possession but couldn’t find the breakthrough. Charamba’s free kick midway through the half curled narrowly over, before he blazed over again from a Xolani Ndlovu delivery. Donovan Bernard then kept the hosts in it with a sharp save from Wadi’s close range effort.
Chicken Inn thought they had stolen the lead just before halftime when Muza nodded in a Malon Mushonga cross, only for the assistant referee’s flag to cut short the celebrations.
Off the field, minor scuffles among fans were quickly brought under control by police and marshals.
Teams
Chicken Inn: D Bernard, B Muza (Makopa 80), X Ndlovu, B Rendo, M Mushonga, L Mangaira, I Mabunu, G Majika (Saungweme 82), L Chikuhwa (I Sadiki 80), M Charamba, J Tulani.
CAPS United: K Odai, W Milanzi, J Dzingai, K Mangiza, C Chinga, B Kadamanja, L Chipanera (Bunjira Jnr 69), N Chintuli, P Bamusi, I Wadi, M Mugalu.
