adminonly seven goals in 11 matches, kept another clean sheet at Rufaro yesterday as they sunk their claws into a Beitbridge side which appears to be fizzling out of the championship race with each passing game.
The Sunshine Boys’ defence record is behind Dynamos, who have conceded the least goals – six – and the modest club haven’t been doing badly upfront either as their striker Osborn Mukuradare is currently the second leading goalscorer in the charts behind Chicken Inn striker Tendai Ndoro.
Yesterday, the former Monomotapa forward Mukuradare struck his seventh goal of the season as he found the opener in the 16th minute when struck with a header after he was set up by Tongai Chiworeso.
Tripple B goalkeeper Tapiwa Mafunga then handed the hosts an insurance goal eight minutes later when he was comical in dealing with a corner from Harare striker Phineas Bamusi, leaving midfielder Nathan Ziwini with an easy task to head the ball into the net.
The hosts, with a healthy lead, could have even won the match with a bigger margin but were wasteful and in the end were happy to pick up maximum points after they shared the spoils with Dynamos during mid-week.
City striker Mukuradare could have emerged with a brace while midfielder William Manondo and Godfrey Nguwodzawo were also guilty of missing gilt-edged chances as the hosts displayed their passing football.
The hosts, who still have veteran defender David Kutyauripo out with an injury, yesterday welcomed back Talent Chawapihwa from the casualty list and the youthful midfielder quickly made an impact as he harassed the visitors defence at will.
Tripple B, who unleashed seasoned players such as former CAPS United Itai Gwandu and Ali Kazembe, could have pulled one back at stoppage-time but striker Maxwell Mavuto was unlucky as his effort was denied by the woodwork.
Harare City coach Bigboy Mawiwi said they would want to continue to pick up as many points during the first half of the season.
“We want to make sure in the second round we have no pressure. So we have to collect as many points as we can now. I want to believe if we get these points now it would make our life much easier.
“We are missing so many chances and we have to work on that. We wasted a lot especially through our captain (Nguwodzawo). We could have scored at least four goals in this match. I told mty players at half-time that we are nil-all and they have to score more goals, but it gets into players that we are leading and winning.
“But we did well and did not concede a goal. We have one of best defences at the moment and would want to maintain that,” said Mawiwi.
The City coach, who opted to use goalkeeper Nomore John ahead of Muzvondiwa Gonese, in the absence of first-choice goalminder Maxwell Nyamupangedengu, who was with the national team in Malawi, said he was impressed by the young keeper.
Tripple B new coach Peter Manoti was left searching for his first win since replacing Friday Phiri who was relieved of his duties before the mid-week clash against CAPS United in which they managed a 2-2 at Mandava.
Manoti said fatigue is also affecting his new team which is being forced to travel long distances for home and away matches but remains confident that they will survive relegation.
“We approached the match very well and according to us the turning point was Harare’s first goal which we felt was scored from an off-side position. The blunder by our goalkeeper also cost us the match. But l am happy with the attitude of my players. We are not yet candidates for relegation, we only need to win two games to catch up with other teams.
“We are doing a lot of travelling and only this past week we came from Hwange then went to Zvishavane for our home game and then now we are in Harare. This is really affecting us, having to play some of our matches away from home,” said Manoti.
Teams
Harare City: N. John, W. Kalongonda, T. Chiworeso, W. Nyamutsaka, C. Dickson, J. Jam, W. Manondo, N. Ziwini (W. Savanhu 72nd minute), O. Mukuradare (C. Muvuti 86th minute), P. Bamusi (T. Chawapihwa 65th minute).
Tripple B: T. Mafunga, O. Choto, G. Fireyi (I. Gwandu 85th minute), T. Mkondwa, S. Dube, W. Chingodza, L. Chiwaridzo (K. Sibanda 66th minute), S. Mwaengeni, A. Kazembe (E. Chafungamoyo 78th minute), T. Mamvura, M. Mavuto.
Online Reporter