admin
Sikhumbuzo Moyo in BULAWAYO
Chicken Inn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 2
Triangle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
COACH Rahman Gumbo’s message that Chicken Inn are serious contenders for the Castle Lager Premiership title appears to have galvanised his men into fiery troops determined to prove their gaffer right.
A booming header by the outstanding skipper Moses Jackson in the 22nd minute off a delivery by the equally impressive Innocent Mucheneka thrust the Bulawayo side into the lead.
Mucheneka sealed victory for the Gamecocks from the penalty spot in the 55th minute to secure their 13th win of the season.
“We are slowly but surely itching closer to the championship and all we have to do is concentrate on winning our games,” said Chicken Inn goalkeepers’ coach Julius Ndlovu.
It was the home team which asked the early questions and in the 10th minute Chris Samakweri delivered a cross into the box that was met by Darrly Nyandoro whose header was parried to safety by Triangle goalkeeper Ronald Mudimu.
A minute later, Nyandoro returned to threaten the visitors with another header that beat Mudimu but his effort crashed against the upright.
However, there was no stopping the home side from surging ahead in the 22nd minute when Mucheneka spotted his skipper Jackson lurking on the blind side and delivered a weighted delivery from a corner kick.
Jackson nodded home. Triangle attempted a quick response but their front-line was starved of clean balls as Chicken Inn congested the midfield with chief enforcer Thabani Goredema ensuring the supply line was choked.
The home team’s tactics to congest the midfield forced Triangle skipper Lameck Nhamo, who showed flashes of individual brilliance, to drop deep in search of the ball.
At the beginning of the second half, Triangle coach Taurai Mangwiro introduced Tendai Huwa for Blessing Chimwamuchere and the move saw the Lowveld side coming more into the game in terms of attack.
Triangle could have drawn level in the 49th minute when Simba Makoni beat an ill-conceived offside trap and came face-to-face with drawn-out goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze.
While Makoni’s execution was good, precision deserted him and the lob went wide. The Gamecocks went 2-0 up 10 minutes into the second half after the overlapping Passmore Bernard was hacked inside the box by Donald Dzingai and referee Nduna Nkosana pointed to the spot.
Mucheneka made no mistake from the spot. “They were there to punish us for failure to defend from set-pieces. First, from a corner kick, and at a time when we thought we were regrouping, we gave away a penalty.
“I must say that for the past four or five games, we have put up good shows, but today was not one of those days,” said Mangwiro.
Teams
Chicken Inn: E. Chipezeze, P. Bernard (P. Madhazi 75th min), D. Lunga, M. Jackson, C. Matawu (K. Gurure 80th min), C. Dhuwa (B. Juru 63rd min), C. Samakweri, D. Nyandoro, I. Mucheneka, T. Goredema, B. Nyaunzwi
Triangle United: R. Mudimu, B. Juwayeyi, B. Chimwamuchere (T. Huwa 46th min), D. Dzingai, K. Chigwada, G. Zhokinyu, B. Short (C. Denias 55th min), S. Makoni (E. Phiri 51st min), R. Madamombe, L. Nhamo, R. Kawondera
Online Reporter