adminRicky Zililo @ZililoR
Chicken Inn 2-0 Harare City
VETERAN midfielder Clemence Matawu’s second half strike and an own goal by Harare City defender Munyaradzi Diro-Nyenye secured Castle Lager Premier Soccer League champions Chicken Inn maximum points ending their four-match winless streak.
Chicken Inn had last tasted victory on July 3 when they beat Highlanders 2-0. After that the champions drew against Ngezi Platinum and Harare City, and lost to Chapungu and FC Platinum.
Lady luck smiled on Chicken Inn yesterday as they shot into the lead courtesy of an own goal by Diro-Nyenye who beat his goalkeeper Maxwell Nyamupanedengu while attempting to clear a Matawu cross from the right in the 11th minute.
The goal seemed to inspire the visitors as they took control of the game but failed to breach the Chicken Inn defence.
Harare City twice came close to equalising, first in the 20th minute when striker Francesco Zekumbawire was brought down on the edge of the box and Tafadzwa Chimwemwe’s set piece missed the target by inches.
Defensive midfielder James Jam’s 30th minute long-range attempt went just over the bar.
After the hour mark, Chicken Inn’s mid-season signing Ozias Zibande hit the side netting after beating his marker.
Harare City kept probing, but were let down by poor decision-making inside the box.
In the 63rd minute, the visitors should have equalised when winger William Manondo sent in a good delivery into the box which eluded Chicken Inn defenders and goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze, but found no takers.
Chicken Inn then pulled out Zibande for defender Ben Nyahunzwi in the 70th minute in a move aimed at protecting their lead. They sealed victory 10 minutes from time through Matawu.
Chicken Inn won a free kick on the left side and left-back Divine Lunga sent in a cross that midfielder Pride Tafirenyika cut back to Matawu, who turned and shot past Nyamupanedengu.
“I think the score line is not a true reflection of the game because it was a tight game. Luck was on our side and we managed to get two goals,” said Rahman Gumbo, the Chicken Inn coach.
Harare City coach Moses Chunga said: “We need to work on our finishing because we are not doing enough in the final third. After today’s performance, I think we should go with our heads held high and I’m sure in the next game we’re going to get a positive result.”
Teams
Chicken Inn: Elvis Chipezeze, Passmore Bernard, Divine Lunga, Moses Jackson, Teenage Hadebe, Brian Juru, Chris Samakweri, Pride tafirenyika, Clemence Matawu (Moses Demera, 83rd minute), Ozias Zibande (Ben Nyahunzvi, 70th minute), Obidiah Tarumbwa (George Majika, 61st minute)
Harare City: Maxwell Nyamupanedengu, Dexter Mawere, Tafadzwa Chimwemwe, Munyaradzi Diro-Nyenye, Arnold Chiveya, Ronald Chitiyo, Learnmore Muyambo, Kudakwashe Kumwala (William Manondo, 60th minute), Martin Vengesai, James Jam, Francesco Zekumbawire
Results at a glance
Saturday: How Mine 1-1 Border Strikers, ZPC Kariba 0-0 Dynamos, Bulawayo City 0-1 FC Platinum, Mutare City Rovers 0-0 Chapungu
Yesterday: Hwange 1-0 Tsholotsho, Chicken Inn 2-0 Harare City, Triangle United 0-0 Ngezi Platinum Stars, Caps United 1-0 Highlanders
Online Reporter