adminLangton Nyakwenda in Zvishavane
Harare City. . . . . . .(1) 4
ZPC Kariba. . . . . . . (1) 1
FRANCESCO ZEKUMBAWIRE scored a magnificent brace to propel a spirited Harare City into the Chibuku Super Cup final for the second consecutive year at Mandava Stadium yesterday. City will now meet either Dynamos or Chapungu, who play in the other semi-final at the same venue today.
The Sunshine Boys came from behind after defender Thomas Sweswe opened the scoring for ZPC in the fourth minute.
Goals from Zekumbawire (brace), substitute Agrippa “Wasu” Murimba and an own goal by George Magariro turned the match on its head.
Veteran defender Sweswe stunned City when he headed home a Raphael Manuvire corner early in the game.
However, City settled, knocked the ball around, and got the equaliser in the 26th minute when Zekumbawire fired home from inside the box.
The Sunshine Boys bossed the game from then on but failed to convert possession into goals.
One-all it was at half time.
City coach Taurai Mangwiro’s half-time talk must have galvanised last year’s losing finalists as they came back in business mode.
They surged ahead seven minutes after the hour mark when substitute Magariro turned a Kudakwashe Kumwale’s cross into his own net.
Kumwale then set up Zekumbawire, whose stinging shot from distance was too much for reigning ‘Keeper of the Year Tendai Hove.
Murimba completed the rout in added time when he tapped home from close range.
Harare City assistant coach Mkhupali Masuku immediately declared his team’s intention to go all the way.
“We can’t afford to lose two consecutive finals. We will try our very best to win it this time around. Credit goes to the boys, they played well and according to instruction,” he said.
ZPC coach Sunday Chidzambwa blamed his defence for the defeat and acknowledged Zekumbawire had given his team a torrid afternoon.
“We conceded soft goals. But the City strike force gave us problems. We tried to rectify the problem in the second half but unfortunately we couldn’t hold on, it was just not our day,” he said.
Teams
Harare City: M Nyamupanedengu, A Chivheya, G Chimwemwe, (D Nyenye, 64), T Ndlovu, C Dickson, T Samanja, J Jam, W Manondo, M Vengesayi (B Maglasi, 89), F Zekumbawire (A Murimba, 79), K Kumwala
ZPC Kariba: T Hove, S Sheshe, S Appiah, D Phiri, T Rantokoane, (A Nyamiwa, 64), T Magorimbo, T Sweswe, P Kabwe, R Manuvire, L Chikafa (T Nyamandwe, 29), P Tafirenyika (G Magariro, 46)
Online Reporter