Sundaymail EditorMunyaradzi Musiiwa in GWERU
Chapungu ……...................... (1)1
Chicken Inn ………................(0)2
THE Castle Lager Premier Soccer League’s hottest property — Edmore Chirambadare — scored his eighth goal of the season while skipper Danny Phiri found a late winner as Chicken Inn came from behind to beat 10-man Chapungu at Ascot yesterday.
The result saw the Gamecocks going six points clear.
Chirambadare cancelled inform Allan Tavarwisa’s first half strike after 57 minutes of play before Phiri fired home the winner in the last minute of the game.
However, it was Chapungu who were the first to settle as Tavarwisa scored in the 25th minute.
An attempted clearance by Chicken Inn defender, Moses Jackson, ricocheted off Tavarwisa and beat a badly positioned Gamecocks keeper Elvis Chipezeze.
It was the former DeMbare man’s fourth goal of the season.
The bustling Tavarwisa could have gotten onto the score sheet earlier but his shot, hit on the turn, missed the target by a few inches in the 16th minute.
Chicken Inn’s equalizer came 12 minutes into the second half through man-of-the-moment Chirambadare.
He fired home from close range after being fed by the impressive George Majika.
Chapungu were then reduced to 10 men in the 74th minute when former Caps United player Blessing Zabula was shown a second yellow card by referee Allen Basvi for a rough challenge on Katsvairo.
The airmen’s woes worsened when the gritty Chicken Inn captain Phiri, unleashed a 35-yard thunderbolt that caught goalkeeper Roy Mazingi unaware.
Chapungu coach John Nyikadzino accused the match official of biased officiating.
“While I am not taking anything away from Chicken Inn, I am not happy with some of the decisions made by the referee.
“I become worried because Chicken Inn, who are title favourites, are from Bulawayo and the match official is from Bulawayo,” said Nyikadzino.
Joel Antipas, the Chicken Inn gaffer, took a dig at Nyikadzino and insisted it’s still too early to label his side as championship contenders.
“I am not happy with the Chapungu coach who was encouraging his players to heckle my charges. That is ancient football and I do not expect that from a coach like him.
“However, I am happy with the good form that we are enjoying as well as being on top of the log though it is too early to talk about the championship,” he said.
Teams:
Chapungu: R. Mazingi; B. Mbavarira, B. Zabula, C. Kwaramba, H. Mugoniwa, T. Mombeshora, G. Phiri, N. Murisa, T. Chitora, M. Mavhuto, A. Tavarwisa (P. Marufu 76th)
Chicken Inn: E. Chipezeze, P. Bernard, L. Mhlanga (G. Goddard 32nd), M. Jackson, B. Mbiriri, D. Phiri, C. Matawu, T. Kutinyu, M. Katsvairo, E. Chirambadare, M. Majika
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter