Online Reporter
Zimpapers Sports Hub
KNOWLEDGE MUSONA struck twice for champions Scottland and Prince Dube grabbed an added-time winner for Hardrock as the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) title rivals both won with an identical 2-1 scoreline yesterday.
This left Scottland three points clear at the top.
At the other end of the table, basement side Triangle beat TelOne 2-0 at Ascot Stadium.
MWOS thumped ZPC Kariba 4-1, CAPS United were held to a goalless draw by Bulawayo Chiefs and FC Platinum edged Agama 1-0.
Musona ends Scottland’s slip
Musona converted an 11th-minute penalty and curled home a free-kick on the stroke of half-time, either side of Petrus Simaneka’s equaliser, as Scottland ended a two-match winless run.
Scottland were awarded the penalty after Moses Shidolo’s powerful shot struck Simba Bhora captain Webster Tafa’s hand.
The referee pointed to the spot despite protests from the hosts and Musona kept his composure to score his ninth league goal of the season.
Simba Bhora responded strongly.
Ishmael Nyanhi headed wide from Simaneka’s cross, with Nelson Chadya beaten, while Blessed Ndereki’s snapshot forced the Scottland goalkeeper into a save.
Their pressure paid off in the 29th minute when a mix-up between Chadya and Kevin Moyo allowed Simaneka to steal possession and roll the ball into an empty net.
With the Wadzanai crowd behind Simba Bhora and a swirling wind sweeping across the ground, Musona restored Scottland’s lead.
Mthokozisi Msebe was brought down just outside the box and Musona curled the resulting free-kick beyond the goalkeeper to complete his brace and take his league tally to 10 goals.
Simba Bhora pressed for another equaliser after the break, with Ronald Chitiyo adding creativity from the bench, but Simaneka and McCartney Naweseb failed to take their chances.
Scottland coach Norman Mapeza hailed Musona’s contribution.
“Knowledge has been doing it of late. He works hard and is dedicated to the profession. Sometimes I run out of words to talk about Knowledge,” he said.
The defeat extended Simba Bhora’s winless run to five matches, although coach Mandla Mpofu was encouraged by the performance. Mpofu, however, disputed both decisions that led to Scottland’s goals.
“I do not think that was a penalty, but a ball-to-hand situation. Even the free-kick probably should not have been awarded, but we take the result and move on,” he said.
Dube wins it in added time
Hardrock were seconds away from dropping two points when Dube’s left-footed strike from outside the box completed their comeback against 10-man Hunters.
Godfrey Dabgwa had given the relegation-threatened side a 31st-minute lead before Emmanuel Zinyama’s dismissal changed the match midway through the second half.
Washington Navaya equalised a minute after the red card, taking his league tally to 15 goals, before Dube settled the contest in added time.
Hardrock started strongly, with Donald Mudadi controlling the midfield and Hunters goalkeeper Moreblessing Phiri making three early saves.
Hunters gradually found their way into the contest and Tadiwanashe Huni fired into the side-netting in the 27th minute.
Tinotenda Muringai then headed narrowly wide at the other end before a quick passing move opened the Hardrock defence and Dabgwa fired past Martin Mapisa.
Hunters nearly doubled their advantage five minutes after the restart, but Thubelihle Mavuso blocked Huni’s goal-bound effort.
Hardrock coach Kelvin Kaindu introduced Wilfred Madzungu and Sambulo Simelani, and the changes paid off after Zinyama was sent off in the 65th minute for bringing down Simelani.
“It was a tough game. These are difficult teams to play because they want to survive,” said Kaindu.
“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 something from the match.
“We should have collected at least a point, but unfortunately it did not go well for us,” he said.
Triangle drag TelOne down
TelOne lost the match they could least afford to lose after goals either side of the break from Sydney Urikhob and substitute Vince Mero secured all three points for Triangle.
The defeat left the WiFi Boys 16th with 20 points, seven from safety with seven matches remaining.
New coach Joel Luphahla missed the match as he was in Harare attending a CAF A coaching course.
Stand-in coach Dilloan Chivandire blamed defensive mistakes for the defeat, but insisted TelOne’s fight was not over.
“When you look at the goals we conceded, they came from mistakes. We made two mistakes and were punished,” he said.
“The fight is still on. We have seven more games and they are all winnable. We have to keep believing and play until the last match.”
Despite the victory, Triangle remain bottom with 18 points, nine from safety.
“It is still very difficult, but if we take each game as it comes and manage to collect maximum points, we can survive,” said Triangle coach Genesis Mangombe.
“I am happy that we managed to score two goals away from home. Now we have to focus on the next assignment and make sure we don’t drop points anymore.”
MWOS hit four at Ngoni
MWOS recovered from an early deficit to record their second-biggest PSL victory with a 4-1 win over ZPC Kariba at Ngoni Stadium.
Nigel Katawa gave the visitors a fifth-minute lead before Wilson Mensah equalised from Clive Kwangwari’s pass on the half-hour mark.
Nigel Makumbe headed MWOS in front 10 minutes later from Arthur Banda’s cross before Valentine Katsande added a third on the stroke of half-time.
Mensah completed his brace in the 78th minute after being picked out by Dawid Ndeunyema and was named Man of the Match. It was the first time MWOS had scored four league goals since beating Kwekwe United 4-0 at the same venue last season.
The victory moved the Punters into seventh place with 38 points.
“We can’t match last season’s performance, but we have to try our best so that we at least finish in a decent position,” said coach Lloyd Mutasa.
CAPS waste chances
CAPS United struck the upright and passed up the better chances as Bulawayo Chiefs escaped with a point from a goalless encounter at Luveve Stadium.
The visitors lost goalkeeper Washington Arubi to injury after only three minutes, but replacement Victor James settled quickly.
Chiefs goalkeeper Wallace Magalane was forced into an early save before the upright denied CAPS the opening goal.
Chiefs threatened when Gonclaves Chissele met a cross with a header, but James kept it out.
Magalane was called upon again at the other end, producing an excellent save to deny Chawononga Kaonga.
Chiefs returned from the break with more purpose and forced CAPS deeper during the opening 20 minutes of the second half, but struggled to create clear chances.
“I thought we had chances where we could have buried the game. It was difficult to penetrate in the second half,” said CAPS coach Takesure Chiragwi.
Chiefs coach John Nyikadzino was also disappointed with the result.
“We wanted a win since we were playing at home. Every point counts at this stage of the season,” he said. “We have to work on our attacking third.”
Elsewhere, Tadiwa Muchenje scored the only goal in the 67th minute as FC Platinum edged Agama 1-0. Agama had kept the hosts out for more than an hour before Muchenje finally broke the deadlock.
