Gamecocks beat Green Machine

Innocent Kurira at Luveve Stadium
Chicken Inn 2-1 Caps United

BRET Amidu’s stoppage-time strike got Chicken Inn out of jail after they almost got punished for missing a late second half penalty kick at Luveve Stadium yesterday.

Caps United netted first through Joseph Tutani who headed home a Pawell Govere cross after 56 minutes of play.
The hosts would reply through a beauty of a grounder from captain Xolani Ndlovu from a distance eight minutes later.

It took a late Amidu strike to save the day for the hosts who were almost made to pay for the missed spot kick. Chicken Inn were handed the opportunity to win the game after they were awarded a penalty kick after 73 minutes.
Having grabbed the ball from the hands of Malvin Gaki who was ready to take the penalty kick, Clive Augusto failed to convert from 12 yards.

Referee on the day Tichaona Mbire had been left with no choice but to award the spot kick after Govere had blocked a Gaki shot at goal with his hand inside the box.

With Gaki who scored Chicken Inn’s last spot kick when they played Highlanders a fortnight ago ready to take the kick, Augusto grabbed the ball from him and the result was not the desirable one.

His initial effort was blocked back into play by Tonderai Mateyaunga in goal in for Caps United, fell back into into his path and his rebound effort went way over the cross bar.

Chicken coach Joey Antipas downplayed the incident.
“Well, that happens to the best of players. First of all, we won and l thought we deserved the win. After missing the chances we had in the first half, we had three clear chances in the first half and second half as well.

“There was a corner kick and we were punished for slack marking. I thought we were lackingwith the final pass. There were no quality passes going through to the strikers. Well done to the players who came on. I think we did some good changes in the second half which helped us win the game,” said Antipas.

The victory moved Chicken Inn into second position with 59 points, three ahead of Dynamos who play Highlanders today.
Llyod Chitembwe, the Caps United coach was visibly annoyed with the manner in which they lost.
“It is a bad feeling to lose the game the way we did. But l thought the most critical moments of the game when we were out of position, we failed to manage that situation well.

“We made mistakes we could have avoided. I felt Amidu was given too much time and space on the ball and in a game of this magnitude you get punished for that,” said Chitembwe.

Though the first half perfomance from both sides was somewhat inspiring, the hosts had the better chances.
Michael Charamba had an effort from close range saved by Mateyaunga after 28 minutes.

Chicken Inn had the best chance of the first stanza through Gaki who after beating Mateyaunga had an open goal but failed to direct his effort at goal.
TEAMS
Chicken Inn: Bernard Donovan, Arthur Chinda, Tafadzwa Kutinyu ( Bret Amidu 84 mins), Vincent Moyo, Malvin Gaki, Richard Hachiro, Clive Dzingai ( Clive Augusto 62 mins), Malvin Whata (Brian Ncube 84 mins) , Itai Mabunu, Xolani Ndlovu, Michael Charamba ( Denzel Khumalo 62 mins)
Caps United: Tonderai Mateyaunga, Marshal Machazane, Pawell Govere, Joseph Tulani, Devon Chafa, Emmanuel Mandiranga, Ian Nyoni ( Phenias Bamusi 45 mins), Joel Ngodzo ( Blessing Sarupinda 60 mins) , Clive Rupiya, William Manondo — Follow on Twitter @innocentskizoe