Andrew
Sports Reporters
IT was a case of the proverbial “too little too late’’ for Harare City, who will officially be demoted from the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League if ZPC Kariba secure a point in their match against Highlanders today.
Harare City stemmed their three-match winless streak when they edged Bulawayo City 2-1 at Barbourfields yesterday.
That win was, however, not good enough to steer Harare City away from the drop zone but only gave them a glimmer of hope based on a mathematical chance.
Yet Harare City fluffed a glorious opportunity to keep the destiny of their survival in their hands when being held 1-1 at home by relegated WhaWha last weekend.
Those two dropped points meant that Taurai Mangwiro and his charges can only now finish with 35 points if they beat Highlanders in their final day assignment at the National Sports Stadium.
ZPC Kariba are already on 35 points and have a goal difference of minus eight while Harare City are on 32 points and a goal difference of minus 10.
In order to be absolute about their survival, Harare City would have to pray that ZPC Kariba lose in their last two games either without scoring or by big margins that would ensure they only need the narrowest of wins over Highlanders.
That, indeed, means mathematically, the sun has set on the Sunshine Boys’ flirtation with the Premiership.
Newboys Cranborne Bullets did enough to survive when Nesbsert “Yabo’’ Saruchera’s soldiers, drew 0-0 against Tenax at Vengere yesterday.
Cranborne Bullets, who are 12th, now have 38 points a tally that both Bulawayo City and Harare City cannot achieve, even if they won in their final games.
Yadah, in 13th place, also ensured safety with the point they took off Chicken Inn in their 0-0 draw at the National Sports Stadium on Friday.
In yesterday’s game at Barbourfields, Bulawayo City never looked a side that is desperate to survive relegation as they blew an early lead to come out second best against Harare City and deepen their relegation woes.
Despite getting an early lead, the hosts put up a below par performance worth a side in the relegation zone.
Yesterday’s result left Amakhosi 15th on the log with 33 points, while the Sunshine City Boys are a point behind in 16th position.
Both municipal teams can be relegated if ZPC Kariba can avoid defeat when they face Bosso. A draw would take ZPC Kariba to 36 points and even if they lose their last match, they would have to do so by a huge margin for Bulawayo City or Harare City to overtake them.
Bulawayo City had surged ahead after eight minutes through a Melikhaya Ncube penalty kick.
Referee Arnold Ncube pointed to the spot after striker Dalubuhle Dlodlo had been hacked down inside the box by Dinoleen Masukuta.
Ncube stepped up and was up to the task though Tawanda Dendera, in goal for Harare City, dived to his right and got his hand on the ball on its way into the net.
The visitors came close to getting a response through Wilfred Muvirimi, who saw his attempt at goal crash against the cross bar two minutes later.
The visitors were in control of the game from that moment as the ball was played in the hosts’ own half for the greater part of the game.
Harare City were duly rewarded for their efforts through a beauty of a goal from Masukuta, who controlled well and volleyed home from the edge of the box after 39 minutes.
Had Harare City been more fluent in front of goal, they could have scored more goals before the breather.
They would go on to seal their deserved victory after 77 minutes through Donald Dzvinyai. City coach Farai Tawachera was saddened with the loss.
“I am disappointed. The lack of depth was evident. You could see the tired legs. We could have won this game. I am now thinking how we bounce back from here.
“The way we played today is not how we normally play,” said Tawachera.
Despite the tough times, Mangwiro was elated with the victory.
“We are not worried about what happens in the last game. We just have to continue from here. We have not had many of these wins this season, so to get one away from home is good news for us,’’ said Mangwiro.
While Harare City face Highlanders on the final day, ZPC Kariba play Herentals at Nyamhunga and Bulawayo City will travel to Vengere for a date against Black Rhinos.
Online Reporter