dyton mupawaenda
Oscar Rusenga, in TRIANGLE
Manica Diamonds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 2
Hwange. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
A TWO-minute blitz midway through the second half helped Manica Diamonds halt a four-match winless streak when they beat visiting Hwange in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Gibbo yesterday.
The Gem Boys wrapped up the game courtesy of a penalty conversion by Gerald Bero in the 62nd minute and another goal by substitute Ralph Kawondera with his first touch, two minutes later.
The win delighted coach Jairos Tapera, whose side had played identical 1-1 draws with Yadah and Chicken Inn in their last two outings. Just before that, they had lost with identical 2-1 margins to champions FC Platinum and struggling army side Black Rhinos.
*Full story on www.herald.zw
Tapera said fatigue was affecting his players due to a packed fixtures programme and the continuous travel from their Mutare base to play home matches in Triangle since Sakubva is yet to be certified for PSL games.
The Gem Boys had a bye recently after rivals Dynamos successfully appealed for the postponement of their league game that was scheduled for Gibbo.
“I think the last four games were very difficult for us, two losses and two draws. But like what I have been saying all along, fatigue was catching up with us and we had a very busy time trying to arrest that.
“So I am hoping that this win will give us another chance to continue playing very well. Looking at how we played, I think in all departments, overall we kept the ball very well.
“Our movements were excellent and we had chances that I think we could have scored more. But I am happy with the performance,” said Tapera.
The Gem Boys moved into fourth place, after overtaking FC Platinum, and they have 47 points in the bag. However, they still trail log leaders Ngezi Platinum Star by 10 points, going into the last five games of the campaign.
After a goalless half yesterday, in which goalkeeper Tedious Baye made a key save to deny Solomon Sithole’s dipping shot from outside the penalty box, Manica Diamonds made a key double substitution soon after the restart, bringing in goal scorer Bero and the club’s top goal scorer Fortune Binzi, for Charles Teguru and Panashe Mtasa.
Soon Binzi won a penalty, after he was fouled by Hwange defender Goodwin Goriyati, and Bero made no mistake from the spot, with 62 minutes played.
Before Hwange could re-organise themselves, Kawondera doubled the lead after Goriyati’s attempted clearance beat his keeper Wellington Muuya before the Gem Boys forward sliced the ball on the line, into an open net.
Manica diamonds are now back in the top four with 47 points while Hwange dropped one place, to ninth, and have 37 points.
Online Reporter