Chronicle Editor
Oscar Rusenga, Eastern Lowveld Correspondent
Triangle United 0-3 Bulawayo Chiefs FC
A PERFECT hat-trick from Bulawayo Chiefs striker Obriel Chirinda handed the visitors maximum points as they thumped Triangle in a Castle Lager Premiership match at Gibbo yesterday.
Triangle started on the front foot and were unlucky not to take the lead in the opening minute as their top marksman Wilson Mensah’s effort from close range was pushed out by Chiefs goalkeeper Khulekani Dube before defender Ben Nyahunzvi cleared it off the line.
Triangle continued to push as they searched for an early opener. Tinashe Kabanda and Russell Madamombe combined well in the middle but the chances which fell Triangle’s way could not be converted. The visitors had a chance of their own as Joe Sibanda’s shot from outside the box narrowly missed the target after good work on the right by Brian Rusinga in the 13th minute.
It was an end to end affair as the two sides attacked each other in an entertaining match.
Mensah missed an easy chance when sending his effort over the bar after a very good pass from Blessing Kagudu. This was an unusual miss from the Ghanaian in the 18th minute.
The deadlock was eventually broken in the 34th minute when Enock Karembo made a costly mistake and Obriel Chirinda capitalised, scoring an easy chance for the visitors.
Kagudu had a chance to equalise from a dead ball situation but his well-taken freekick from 20 yards came off the post in the 43rd minute.
Triangle started the second-half better but they were not clinical in front of goal despite creating a lot of chances.
Triangle centreback Ariel Makopa had his speculative shot from outside the box tipped over the bar by Dube as the hosts looked to level scores in the 62nd minute.
The Bulawayo Chiefs number one Dube was excellent between the posts and denied substitute Wellington Taderera with a smart save after a good effort in the 69th minute.
Man-of-the-match Chirinda was lethal in front of goal and doubled Chiefs lead following a corner kick in the 77th minute.
Chirinda completed his hat-trick with a fantastic finish after good combination play between substitutes Billy Veremu and Dalubuhle Dlodlo in the referee’s optional time. Triangle coach Thulani Sibanda was devastated with the heavy defeat at home and thought the mistakes from his players cost him the three points.
“We were not in it, we made blunders against very lethal strikers, you can’t give the ball that Karembo gave away to the likes of Mthokozisi Msebe, Chirinda or Farau Matare because they will always punish you and that was the turning point.
“We now need to see how we can close this window because we can’t go on like this,” said Sibanda.
Chiefs coach Joseph Sibindi was very happy with the result and is confident his charges can do better in the coming fixtures.
“It was a good performance, we had a game plan that utilises the strength of these boys and everything seemed to be working well. We still have some work to do but we are happy with the three points.
“Triangle gave us a good game, it’s unfortunate they missed the chances they created in the first 10 minutes of the game,” said Sibindi.
Teams: Triangle: Matripples Muleya, Blessing Kagudu, Carlos Musimwa, Eriya Mafirenyika, Ariel Makopa, Joe Nyabinde, Tinashe Kabanda (Wellington Taderera 58th minute), Enock Karembo (Nobert Zingo 86th minute), Njabulo Ngwenya, Wilson Mensah, Russell Madamombe
Bulawayo Chiefs: Khulekani Dube, Joe Sibanda, Ben Nyahunzvi, Mthokozisi Msebe, Obriel Chirinda, Malvin Mkolo, Brian Rusinga, Danny Phiri, Mandlenkosi Gasela (Billy Veremu 64th minute), Felix Moyo, Farau Matare (Dalubuhle Dlodlo 90th minute)
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