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Eddie Chikamhi in NGEZI
Cranborne Bullets …… (0) 1
Harare City……………… (1) 1
(Cranborne Bullets win 2-1 after extra time)
CRANBORNE Bullets’ second-half substitute Everson Feremba completely changed the script yesterday with a brace that ushered the Premiership football newboys to the semi-finals of the Chibuku Super Cup at Baobab.
Feremba headed Bullets to victory over Harare City with five minutes remaining.
In fact, the forward had forced the game into extra-time with his 55th minute leveller, after Jerry Chipangura had given the two-time Chibuku Super Cup champions the lead after only four minutes.
But the Sunshine Boys were not the same following a number of injuries in the second-half which saw both centrebacks Marshall Machazane and Hastings Chipangura limping out prematurely. Goalkeeper Prosper Chigumba also looked in pain and was replaced towards the end of the regulation time.
Bullets players looked stronger and their endurance into extra-time paid off.
Their coach Nesbert “Yabo’’ Saruchera was thrilled by the manner his team responded to the early setback. Bullets are having a dream start in the Premiership after topping Group Three during the preliminary round-robin matches in Mutare.
“We are very excited that we are through to the semi-finals. As you know we are a team that has just come from Division One and we just want people to know us and start counting us in the top-flight,” said Saruchera.
“We managed to top the group in Mutare and probably some of the guys knew we are a threat. We have a very good young team mixed a bit with some veterans.
“We are dangerous, we are about to go. We just want to progress up to the end.”
Feremba got them back in the game just give minutes after he was introduced as a second-half substitute.
Both teams had their moments with Moreblessing Mushangwe, Tadiwa Chibunyu and Marlvin Whata a constant threat.
For City, Clive Rupiya, Emmanuel Mandiranga, William Manondo and Chipangura always gave hope.
Substitute Kuda Musharu could have won it for City in 110th minute but dragged his shot wide as the extra-time drew towards the closing stages.
The same situation presented on the other end when Feremba found himself unmarked in a poor off-side trap by Harare City.
Goalkeeper Kelvin Shangiwa made a point-blank save before the Sunshine Boys recovered and cleared their lines.
But Feremba got it right with five minutes remaining on the clock when he connected a header from a cross by Tapiwa Sibanda.
Harare City coach Lloyd Chitembwe conceded defeat.
“t was a decent game but it was going to be very difficult for us considering that there were so many things that went against us today.
“We had injuries and when you lose two or three of your key players, it’s difficult to come back.
“All the same, I also thought there were many things that went wrong in the match.
“Usually we are a team that relies so much on dominance of matches for us to win a game yet today we didn’t do much of that.
“I thought it was all down to the fact that we couldn’t find our range in terms of passing. I am sure we made a number of technical mistakes and by so doing it was going to be difficult,” said Chitembwe.
Teams
Harare City: P Chigumba (K. Shangiwa, 86th min), H. Chapusha (W. Muvirimi, 114th min), M Machazane (E Ziocha, 50th minute) Z Bizeki, K Kapikinyu, M Muchenje, C Rupiya, W Manondo, I Zambezi, E Mandiranga, J Chipangura (K Musharu, 103rd min)
Craneborne Bullets: T Makoni, T Sibanda, M Mushangwe, B. Gurupira (D. Mbewe, 106th min) L. Zvasiya, C Charakupa (K. Chidonza, 32nd min), W Kapinda, M Namakhona, K Chiripawako (M. Mudzuka, 71st min), T Chibunyu (E. Feremba, 50th min), M Whata (T. Meke, 71st min)
Online Reporter