adminEllina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
DSTV Rangers powered to a 2-1 victory over Gunners on Saturday at Lafarge, stretching the leaders’ winless run to three matches in the World Navi Northern Region Division One soccer league. Rangers, who jumped two places up to seventh place on the table, were the underdogs only to cause a huge upset. Veteran forward Gilbert Mushangazhike fired Rangers into the lead after 28 minutes and Herbert Mundwa weighed in with another goal in the 47th minute.
Gunners have been struggling for their winning touch in the past weeks, dropping seven points during the poor run.
They were first held to a goalless draw by Mushowani Stars at Lafarge before settling for a 1-1 draw at Manyame against Blue Swallows.
The log leaders now have the same number of points with second-placed Flame Lilly who beat Chegutu Pirates 1-0 at Chikurubi.
Both teams have 57 points and Gunners remain on top because of a superior goal difference.
Mushowani moved to within three points of the leaders after an impressive 2-1 win over Ngezi Platinum.
DStv assistant coach, Tonderai Marume, who was in charge of the team in the absence of Ikabort Masocha who is attending a CAF B Licence coaching course in Bulawayo, was impressed with his team’s showing.
“It was a tough game considering we were playing a team on top of the log but the good thing is that our players played with commitment. They applied things we did at training.
“In the first half we managed to get a goal and managed to suffocate them since we were the underdogs and at the end of the day we won but it was a balanced game, they gave it their all.
“Obviously, everybody is happy with the results but we still have a long way to go. Our mandate is to make sure the team doesn’t get relegated to Division Two.
“Morale is high that we beat Gunners but we still have to take each game seriously because anything can happen in those seven games,” said Marume.
Results: Royal Classic 0, Commando 1; Gunners 1, DStv Rangers 2; Karoi United 2, Blue Swallows 1; ZRP Morris 1, Mushowani 2; Ngezi Platinum 1, DC Academy 1; Seven Flames 2, Lake Harvest 0; Flame Lilly 1, Chegutu 0, Twalumba 0, Starbill 2; Bindura 2, ZRP Football Club 1.
Latest Log Standings
P W D L F A Pts
Gunners 27 16 9 2 37 12 57
Flame Lilly 27 17 6 4 28 9 57
Mushowani 27 16 6 5 34 15 54
Bindura United 27 14 6 7 23 17 48
Ngezi Platinum 27 12 7 8 27 16 43
Commando 27 10 12 5 25 18 42
DStv Rangers 27 10 8 9 25 23 38
DC Academy 27 9 10 8 26 25 37
ZRP F/Club 27 10 6 11 35 23 36
Karoi United 27 10 6 11 27 23 36
Starbill 26 10 4 11 25 28 34
Lake Harvest 27 10 3 14 29 34 33
Seven Flames 27 7 12 8 24 34 33
ZRP Morris 27 7 11 9 26 22 32
Blue Swallows 27 6 8 13 16 22 26
Twalumba 27 4 9 14 12 30 22
Chegutu Pirates 26 7 4 15 14 34 22
Royal Classic 27 2 3 22 13 61 9
Online Reporter