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Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
CAPS United…………….(0)1
Harare City……………..(1)1HARARE City coach Masimba Dinyero remains optimistic his side will survive relegation despite dropping two precious points against CAPS United at the National Sports Stadium yesterday.
With Shabanie Mine winning against Higlanders at Maglas, the two teams are now sharing the same number of points but City remain on top of Shabanie because of a superior goal difference.
However, Harare City will have to fight for maximum points when they take on Chicken Inn in a tricky assignment at Rufaro in the last round of the matches to survive relegation.
Harare City were the first to score in the 27th minute through Agrippa Murimba when he got a pass from Francesco Zekumbawire.
They went to the break leading but CAPS United came into the second half a changed side and Ronald Pfumbidzai equalised in the 64th minute.
Dinyero said they still have three points to play for and is defiant they will collect maximum points in their last league game.
“It’s not yet over because we still have a game to play, we have got points that can make us survive. We are going to survive because we are playing our last game at home and I know we are going to collect maximum points at home.
“There is no pressure, we don’t have pressure at all but only that we have to utilise all chances that will come our way,” said Dinyero
Dinyero blamed his charges for lapsing in the second half and allowing CAPS United to find an equaliser when it mattered most.
“We dropped two vital points, we started very well but unfortunately we let them off the hook. Complacency crept into my boys but later on when they scored an equaliser they started to pull out their strategy and when you concede you want to go and score a goal, which is difficult for you to find another goal. But we had the chances, unfortunately we wasted several chances today.”
Harare City had the upperhand in the first half causing some problems for CAPS United whose performance was far from convincing and left a lot to be desired.
And at some point in the second half a section of the Green Machine fans threw missiles onto the pitch as they felt referee was favouring their opponents but their team was the main culprit. And maybe the fact that they are out of the championship race they felt they had nothing to lose.
City first got an opportunity to take the lead nine minutes into the game when Tendai Ngulube’s long range shot was cleared from the box. Three minutes later Zekumbawire’s shot went wide.
The visitors continued to pile the pressure on the Green Machine and finally found the target through Murimba before the break.
But CAPS United coach, Taurai Mangwiro appeared to have had a tough talk with his troops during the break and they came back a better side for the last half.
Mangwiro expressed disappointment over the casual approach to the game by his side that saw them dropping two points.
“I didn’t like the body language to be honest with you. What I saw was a team that looked like we are a defeated lot. And there isn’t that motivation and you could see the hunger to win from our opponents, they knew they would want to survive. Maybe the boys, felt we have done enough for the season and I didn’t like what I saw today,” Mangwiro said.
Although they are out of the championship race CAPS United remain part of the puzzle as they lock horns with the log leaders ZPC Kariba in their last game.
ZPC Kariba need to win the game to clinch the league title on their first season in the league.
On the other hand Dynamos, who are two points behind the Kariba-based side, will be taking on How Mine needing three points and hoping that ZPC lose to CAPS United to be crowned champions for the fourth consecutive year.
And this creates the same scenario as last year when CAPS United clashed against Harare City in the last game of the season in which the latter needed a win to be crowned champions. CAPS United held them to a 2-2 draw while Dynamos beat Black Mambas (ZRP FC) to win the title.
Mangwiro yesterday said they will give it their best when they take on ZPC Kariba despite being out of the championship race.
“We would want to win as many matches as possible and we will give it our best shot, trust me on that one. It won’t be any easy game, it’s not a dead rubber, there is still a lot that we need to do,” Mangwiro said.
Teams
CAPS United: T. Dube, T. Kumbuyani, G. Nyirenda (D. Mukandi 47th minute) , S. Makatuka, R. Pfumbidzai, T. Samanja, N. Alifandika (T. Mahori 46th minute), G. Mangani, G. Phiri, I. Thindwa (K. Bulaji 65th minute), H. Chimutimunzeve.
Harare City: M. Nyamupanedengu, T. Mamvura, A. Chivheya, A. Chaka, C. Dickson, T. Ngulube, R. Uchena, B. Maglasi (W. Manondo 53rd minute), T. Chawapiwa (O. Mukuradare 70th minute), A. Murimba (T. Chimwemwe 82nd minute) , F. Zekumbawire.
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