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Oscar Rusenga in Triangle
Greenfuel FC 1-1 Chicken Inn FC
PREMIERSHIP newboys Greenfuel got a deserved point when they held former champions Chicken Inn in an entertaining Castle Lager Premiership match at Gibbo yesterday.
Fresh from their away victory against Bulawayo Chiefs last weekend, the Billy Rautenbach-bankrolled team were confident of a positive result against seasoned Gamecocks and the side led by Rodwell Dhlakama did not disappoint.
Both teams played open football as they attacked each other earlier on.
But it was Chicken Inn who came closest with striker Hwata, who was a last minute replacement for Brian Muza, crashing his effort against the underside of the crossbar in the third minute.
The home side responded swiftly but Bukhosi Sibanda’s effort narrowly missed the target after a cross from Collins Dhuwa.
Chicken Inn continued to push forward as they searched for an early opener and Greenfuel defender Tatenda Gora almost gifted the visitors a goal after his back pass was intercepted by Hwata, who rounded off the goalkeeper David Bizabani, but the goalkeeper recovered and saved the shot from a tight angle in the 25th minute.
The two sides went to the break tied.
Both sides had periods of dominance with Greenfuel’s Naison Takawira and Xolisani Moyo matching Tadiwa Chibunyu and Tafadzwa Kutinyu pound for pound in the middle of the park.
The hosts came back stronger early in the second-half, creating a handful of chances but were not lethal in front of goal and Sibanda was the main reason the scoreline remained the same.
Sibanda was presented with a good chance to be on the scoresheet after a very good cross from young Naison Takawira but he failed to direct his header from close range, sending the ball over the bar from less than six yards in the 47th minute.
Chicken Inn coach Prince Matore responded with an early substitution as he sensed danger and introduced Muza and Genius Mutungamiri in place of Chibunyu and George Majika respectively in the 54th minute and the decision almost paid dividends.
Muza’s thunderbolt from 18 yards came off the underside of the crossbar only a minute after being introduced and it was another big chance missed for the visitors before they were punished for not being clinical.
Boyz dzeNharo as Greenfuel is affectionately known in Chisumbanje eventually got on the scoresheet after a good build-up before Washington Mapuwa finished off a good team goal in the 58th minute off an assist from Nqobile Ndlovu who was a menace for the visitors in the final third.
Chicken Inn responded with an equally good goal after a quick one-two between substitutes Muza and Mutungamiri who provided an easy chance to Malvin Hwata who tapped in from close range in the 69th minute.
Matore was happy with the result as well as the contributions of his new signings Chibunyu and Obert Malajila who made his Premiership debut having joined from Zifa Southern Region Division One side ZPC Hwange.
“It was a tough game but I am happy the boys did well especially in the second-half. Even when we conceded you could see that something was going to happen and when we scored the boys pushed for an equaliser but unfortunately Lady Luck was not on our side.
“Tadiwa played very well, solid in the middle of the park but we didn’t want to overload him because he only trained two days, Obert (Malajila) came in late and his movements were super and a good prospect going forward for sure,” said Matore.
Dhlakama also conceded it was a difficult game for his team and happy with the point against an experienced side.
“It was a tough game for both teams, it could have gone either way. They had their chances in the second-half and we had ours in the first half but we take a point because we played against a very strong side and we will try to rectify on the grey areas and try to make amends before we play against our next game against Caps United.
“We need to win games and keep the status, we have been playing away and if we play at our own training venue we will surely have better performances at home,” said Dhlakama.
Teams
Greenfuel: David Bizabani, Clive Phiri, Tatenda Gora, Raymond Uchena, Honest Moyo (Reginald Chinemo 46th minute), Xolisani Moyo, Collins Dhuwa (Ashford Nyamajiwa 62nd minute), Bukhosi Sibanda (Gamu Chikengezha 85th minute), Nqobile Ndlovu, Washington Mapuwa, Naison Takawira.
Chicken Inn: Donovan Bernard, Marlvin Hwata, Xolani Ndlovu, Mpumelelo Bhebhe, George Majika (Genious Mutungamiri 54th minute), Arthur Chinda (Vincent Moyo 90th minute), Clive Dzingai, Dominic Jaricha, Tadiwa Chibunyu (Brian Muza 54th minute), Tafadzwa Kutinyu, Michael Charamba (Obert Malajila 78th minute).
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