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ONE just needed to be at the National Sports Stadium yesterday to see what it means to win after exactly three months when David Rediyoni rose from the bench to strike a sweet brace which will remain etched into the hearts of the Makepekepe fans for some time.
Caps United, who last won a match against Hardbody in June, also bounced back to winning ways against the same team when Rediyoni struck in the second minute of added time.
He struck from an angle after defender Tawanda Munyanduri had created acres of space to set him up and the players wildly celebrated the goal with Rediyoni running a 100m stretch.
The fans also broke into song and dance as they could not believe that the win had come at long last.
The victory set up a perfect clash with Motor Action in the Mbada Diamonds Cup this weekend in Bindura.
Hardbody had cancelled an opening goal by Caps United when in the 69th minute Callisto Maheya, barely seconds into the match, scored from a rebound after the initial effort by Jacob Muzokomba.
Caps United had scored the opener in the 57th minute when Rediyoni beat an offside trap and converted into the nets a delivery from Rahman Kutsanzira.
The visitors protested against the goal with Brian Juru being sent for an early shower by referee Langton Chitsa after the skipper told off the linesman for allowing the goal to stand.
The Green Machine deserved to win after dominating the match and created numerous chances but could not just convert into the nets.
Caps United striker Clive Kawinga missed some chances in the opening minutes and everyone watched in agony in the 12th minute when he fumbled a through pass from Leornard Fiyado. It could have been a goal and the coach in the 27th minute pulled out the ineffective forward and thrust in Rediyoni.
Caps United gaffer Taurai Mangwiro made a lot of changes to the team with Hardlife Zvirekwi getting a place at the right back and relegating the captain Tapuwa Kumbuyani to the bench. Washington Pakamisa was thrust into the midfield and also handed the armband while Tendai Samanja was anchoring with Pride Tafirenyika on the right. Asani Nhongo was placed on the left back while Kawinga partnered Fiyado upfront.
This is the same team which played in Mutare against Buffaloes when Makepekepe produced a fine performance but ended with a goalless draw.
The first period was a tale of missed chances with a Pakamisa header after half an hour missing the target off a Kutsanzira cross. Chance after chance went begging as the Green Machine were on song.
It was the same story after the breather.
The visitors had their chances too with a goalkeeping gaffe by Caps United goalie Itai Chiwara in the 8th minute nearly handing them an early lead as Nhlanhla Dube was lurking in the box.
Hardbody’s Richard Jongwe could also have scored on the half-hour mark when he made a spirited run after receiving a pass from Stephen Alimenda but his finishing was poor.
Caps United coach Mangwiro was happy with his first win at the club.
The coach said that he would continue to make changes as he assesses all the players.
Hardbody coach Godfrey Tamirepi blamed the referee for the defeat.
“I was expecting this kind of refereeing. It was not fair the way the game was handled. We matched them pound for pound. My boys fought. We are going to survive as long as we have quality referees,” said Tamirepi.
Teams
Caps United: I. Chiwara, H. Zvirekwi, B. Zabula, T. Munyanduri, A. Nhongo, T. Samanja, W. Pakamisa, P. Tafirenyika, R. Kutsanzira, L. Fiyado, C. Kawinga (D. Rediyoni 27 minute).
Hardbody: U. Alexander, J. Mangiza, B. Juru, A. Chuma, S. Alimenda, N. Dube, R. Useni, I. Mugwamba, R. Jongwe (C. Maheya 96th minute), O. Motsi (C. Nyoni 44th minute), J. Muzokomba.
Online Reporter