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Oscar Rusenga
Sports Reporter
Triangle United . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 0
Bulawayo Chiefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 3
A PERFECT hattrick 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 capitalized, scoring an easy chance for the visitors.
Kagudu had a chance to equalise from the 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 goals despite creating a lot of chances.
Triangle centre back 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 goals and doubled Chiefs’ lead following a corner kick in the 77th minute.
Chirinda completed his hattrick at the death, guiding the ball home with a fantastic finish after good combination play between substitutes Billy Veremu and Dalubuhle Dlodlo in referee’s optional time.
Triangle coach Thulani Sibanda was devastated with the heavy defeat at home and thought the mistakes from his players cost the team 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 beef up during this transfer window because we can’t go on like this,” said Sibanda.
Chiefs coach Joseph Sibindi was pleased with the result and expressed confidence in his charges 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 work. 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 58min), Enock Karembo (Nobert Zingo 86min), 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 64min), Felix Moyo, Farau Matare (Dalubuhle Dlodlo 90min)
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