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WASTEFUL Chicken Inn put on a lacklustre performance but managed to come from a goal down to beat Monomotapa in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League encounter at Luveve Stadium yesterday.
The visitors had failed to break through Chicken Inn’s defence which had skipper Felix Chindungwe, Guide Goddard, Moses Jackson and Brian Mbiriri. Monomotapa resorted to long range efforts and they duly got the goal.
Former national Under-20 midfielder Russel Madamombe gave Monomotapa the lead in the 58th minute with a spectacular long-range shot that beat Chicken Inn goalkeeper Njabulo Nyoni who had stretched full length but could not stop the shot.
Madamombe’s goal could well be a contender for the Goal of the Season. He shrugged off his marker before letting loose a left foot volley which surprised all.
The Gamecocks never gave up though, equalising through Tendai Mukambi nine minutes before full time. Mukambi tapped the ball into an empty net after being set up by Evans Chikwaikwai.
Chikwaikwai had received a long pass from defender Goddard before rounding off Monomotapa’s goalkeeper Artwell Mukandi and unselfishly passing the ball to a better positioned Mukambi who hit the back of the net. In the 87th minute Chicken Inn were awarded a penalty which was hotly disputed by Monomotapa players. This was after Chicken Inn’s substitute Makhosi Ncube appeared to have been pulled down by Knowledge Machona as he was going for a ball in the box and in the process they collided with Mukandi.
Referee Nkosana Nduna who had a clear view pointed to the penalty spot while his second assistant Rudo Nanhanga had her flag up signalling a free kick for Monomotapa.
Monomotapa players accosted Nduna who stood by his decision and gave Machona a red card in the process.
Mukandi could not continue and was replaced by Joseph Mutambi.
There was near chaos as Monomotapa players led by Brian Mapfumo threatened to walk out before the penalty kick was taken but their coach Taurai Mangwiro intervened and they returned to the field.
When play resumed, Chikwaikwai took the responsibility of taking the spot kick that sent Mutambi the wrong way.
Despite collecting three points, Adam Ndlovu was not happy with his team’s performance. Tendai Ndoro, Mukambi, Goddard and Danny Phiri took turns to miss goals in the first half.
Monomotapa gaffer, Mangwiro felt hard done by the referee. Monomotapa have recorded just a single victory on the road and together with Hwange have earned themselves the tag, “poor travellers”.
Teams
Chicken Inn: N Nyoni, G Goddard, F Chindungwe, B Mbiriri, M Jackson, D Phiri, T Ndoro (M Ncube, 70th minute), K Mahachi, T Goredema (C Nkomo, 57th minute), T Mukambi, T Chimenya (E Chikwaikwai 66th minute)
Monomotapa: A Mukandi (J Mutambi, 90th minute), M Mungombe, M Kashu (R Chitiyo, 72nd minute), B Mapfumo, Hillary Mugoniwa, Tendai Ngulube, T Nyamandwe, O Mwerahari, R Madamombe, K Machona
Online Reporter