tawandamusarurwa
Oscar Rusenga in TRIANGLE
Manica Diamonds . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 2
Green Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
Second-half goals from midfielders Bret Amidu and Talent Chamboko sealed a comfortable victory for Manica Diamonds as they dispatched Green Fuel in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match that was considered a Manicaland derby at Gibbo Stadium yesterday.
The victory helped the Gem Boys leapfrog Ngezi Platinum Stars into second place on the log table, courtesy of a superior goal difference.
Both Manica Diamonds and Ngezi, who lost 2-1 to Herentals, are on 39 points, two behind leaders Highlanders, who are in action today. The first half was an evenly contested affair, as both teams enjoyed a fair share of possession, but it was Manica Diamonds who gave the visitors on the day an early scare after Jeffrey Takunda’s tame effort inside the opening 10 minutes came off the post.
Green Fuel responded with a good move but Manica Diamonds defender Kelvin Gwao put his body on the line to block Naison Takawira’s rasping effort from close range with only a quarter of an hour played.
Jairos Tapera surely had a word with his boys at the interval and they responded with an early second-half goal. Amidu benefitted from some clever play by Ralph Kawondera, but his initial effort was blocked by Green Fuel goalkeeper David Bizabani.
The ball, however, fell kindly back onto his feet and he made no mistake.
Former FC Platinum Stars man Amidu had another chance to double his team’s lead from a dead ball but his low shot from the edge of the box was blocked by the Green Fuel defensive wall moments before they conceded another free-kick on the hour mark.
Talent Chamboko then beautifully curled his effort home from almost the same distance to double his team’s lead and give Tapera a much-needed cushion goal.
“We are slowly getting to be a very good, organised team. It was always going to be difficult for us,” Tapera said.
“We made sure we were organised defensively and we got the two goals that we really needed. We have our own objectives of winning as many games as possible. We are not going to look at how Ngezi Platinum or Highlanders are doing; ours is to make sure we win our next game.
“We are playing against Ngezi, a title contender, next weekend and we are looking forward to a good game,” said Tapera.
Green Fuel gaffer Rodwell Dhlakama congratulated his opponents for their win but thought the goals they conceded were avoidable.
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“I think we had a decent first half. We got punished because of our lack of concentration on the first goal,” Dhlakama said.
“The second goal – lack of organisation on the wall.
“We had some grey areas which we need to address when we go back to the training session and see how much ground we can cover before we play our next game against Sheasham.”
TEAMS:
Manica Diamonds: Tedious Baye, Kelvin Gwao, Talent Chamboko, Tawanda Chisi, Trevor Mavhunga, Jeffrey Takunda, Ralph Kawondera, Bret Amidu (Pasca Manhanga 77th min), Charles Teguru (Ask Rupande 85th min), Fortune Binzi, Gerald Bhero (Michael Tapera 64th min)
Green Fuel: David Bizabani, Honest Moyo, Tatenda Gora, Reginald Chinemo, Mclive Phiri, Xolosani Moyo, Collins Dhuwa, Tinotenda Mutyambizi, James Nguluve, Washington Mapuwa, Naison Takawira (Last Jesi 73rd min)
Online Reporter