Online Reporter
Veronica Gwaze, Zimpapers Sports Hub
Hunters………………1
Hardrock……………2
PRINCE DUBE struck in added time to complete Hardrock’s comeback against 10-man Hunters and prevent the title challengers from falling six points behind leaders Scottland at Rufaro Stadium yesterday.
The Warriors forward’s left-footed shot from outside the box secured a 2-1 victory and kept Kelvin Kaindu’s side four points off the summit after Scottland also beat Simba Bhora 2-1 at Wadzanai.
Godfrey Dabgwa gave relegation-threatened Hunters a 31st-minute lead before Emmanuel Zinyama’s dismissal changed the game midway through the second half.
Washington Navaya equalised a minute after the red card, taking his tally to 15 goals, before Dube won it in added time.
Hardrock settled quickly, with Donald Mudadi controlling the midfield and Hunters goalkeeper Moreblessing Phiri forced into three early saves.
Hunters gradually found their way into the contest and Tadiwanashe Huni fired into the side-netting from a well-delivered cross in the 27th minute.
Three minutes later, McDonald Rameck picked out Tinotenda Muringai inside the box, but the defender’s header narrowly missed the target.
Hunters punished that miss almost immediately. A quick passing move opened the Hardrock defence and Dabgwa fired past Martin Mapisa.
Hardrock continued to dominate possession but could not find a way through before the break.
Hunters began the second half strongly and nearly doubled their advantage in the 50th minute when Huni caught the defence flat-footed, but Thubelihle Mavuso blocked his goal-bound effort.
Kaindu responded with a double substitution, replacing Munashe Bamara and Mudadi with Wilfred Madzungu and Sambulo Simelani.
Zinyama was shown a red card in the 65th minute after bringing down Simelani.
Hardrock took advantage almost immediately, with Navaya heading Mavuso’s cross past Phiri to strengthen his grip on the Golden Boot race.
Mavuso shot narrowly wide from distance in the 81st minute as Hardrock pushed for the winner.
Dube then turned sharply inside the box and tested Phiri from close range before finally beating him with a left-footed shot from outside the area in added time.
His winner also earned him the Man of the Match award.
Kaindu praised his side for fighting until the end.
“It was a tough game. These are difficult teams to play because they want to survive,” he said.
“We had a few chances in the first half where we could have scored, but they punished us, so we had to come from behind.
“That goal made our game difficult and we had to make some tactical changes in the second half. They defended very well, with a lot of discipline, so we had to fight to the end.
“I am impressed with the determination we showed and that we were able to score when the game was almost finished.”
Hunters coach Nesbert Saruchera felt his side deserved at least a point.
“We should have collected at least a point, but unfortunately it did not go well for us,” he said.
Hunters: Moreblessing Phiri, Vusumuzi Ngwenya, Gareth Madhake, Ronald Pfumbidzai, Delight Gandari, Tadiwanashe Huni, Munyaradzi Mushanga, Emmanuel Zinyama, Terrence Dzvukamanja, Elder Chirima, Godfrey Dabgwa.
Hardrock: Martin Mapisa, McDonald Rameck, Tinotenda Muringai, Munashe Bamara, Gerald Takwara, Donald Mudadi, Washington Navaya, Misheck Ngwenya, Prince Dube, Thubelihle Mavuso, Neliswa Dlamini.
