Chicken Inn stretch lead at the top

Bulawayo Bureau

Chicken Inn....................... (3) 3

Buffaloes................................ 0

CHICKEN INN found their way back to winning ways when they dismissed visiting Buffaloes in an action-filled but one-sided Castle Lager Premier Soccer League contest at Luveve yesterday.

Goals from Clemence Matawu, Tafadzwa Kutinyu and Edmore Chirambadare saw the Gamecocks recover from the 0-1 defeat they suffered at the hands of Hwange last Saturday.

With the win, Chicken Inn extended their lead at the top of the log to five points as they now have 26 points, while second-placed Dynamos are on 21.

Referee Mlindeli Ndebele, however, stole the show with two questionable decisions against the visitors.

First, he denied Buffaloes what looked like a clear penalty with 27 minutes played.

Lloyd Katongomara was brought down by Ben Nyahunzvi after he had dribbled his way past Chicken Inn goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze.

Instead of sending Nyahunzvi off and pointing to the spot, Ndebele who was far away from the action, only showed the defender a yellow and awarded the visitors a free kick outside the area.

At the other end, Ndebele was quick to point to the penalty spot as soon as Chirambadare went down easily in the box five minutes before the end of the first half.

Away from the Ndebele controversy, Chicken Inn were by far the more superior side.

Seasoned midfielder Matawu gave the Gamecocks the lead eight minutes into the encounter. Moments after seeing his header come off the post, Matawu drilled the ball into the nets from inside the box, a goal Buffaloes goalie Blessing Mwandimutsira could not do anything about.

Chicken Inn had their second goal, eight minutes before the conclusion of the first stanza, Matawu this time around turning provider for Kutinyu to curl the ball into the nets.

Chirambadare finished off the visitors with his seventh goal of the season just before hal-ftime, beating Mwandimutsira from the spot despite the keeper diving the right way.

 

Teams

Chicken Inn: E Chipezeze, M Jackson, C Matawu, D Lunga(Mbiriri 90 minutes ) , D Phiri, M Katsvairo( Chimenya 83 minutes), P Bernard, E Chirambadare, T Kutinyu, B Nyahunzvi, G Majika ( Nkomo 72 minutes)

Buffaloes: B Mwandimutsira, K Mwaramba, P Chandisaita, K Mangondo, P Matizanadzo, T Jeffrey(Mushunje 55 minutes), L Katongomara, V Makaha, K Juwakinyu, A Dzumbunu, J Muzokomba(Chawira 83 minutes) .