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Harare Bureau
Harare City ……………………………………………………… 0
Motor Action …………………………………………………… 0
HARARE City blew away a golden chance to take the lead in the Castle Leager Premiership soccer championship race when they were held to a draw by a 10-man Motor Action who deserve recognition for a Fair Play award at Gwanzura yesterday. Motor Action have been relegated but they have not been throwing away games, holding Highlanders in their last league encounter.
Harare City have everything to play for but appeared complacent against the relegated Mighty Bulls who made them to pay the price dearly yesterday.
Bigboy Mawiwi, the Harare City coach, was a disappointed man as his side now face a defining moment against Highlanders in their next game away at Barbourfields.
“It’s a disappointment, from the onset on Monday I told the players that this game is in our hands. It’s the boys who had to deliver but they didn’t deliver. They disappointed especially when our opponents were playing with 10 men.
“We always play an attacking game but were hitting long balls and we were desperate… We didn’t have patience and also the attitude from the players was bad. I told them soon after warm-up that I didn’t like their attitude,” Mawiwi said.
He also said he will not take anything away from Motor Action who fought bravely.
“Motor Action are a good side, they were passing the ball well and they are young. They have a lot of movement.
“My players didn’t play to instructions and even the substitutes that we brought in didn’t come to the party. I thought then we would get a goal especially from Martin Vengesayi and Crybert Muvuti,” said Mawiwi.
His opposite number Prince Matore was satisfied with his by the draw as he said they were now playing to finish on a high note.
“The game-plan was to collect maximum points, that’s why the guys were fighting up to the end.
“We want to finish on a high note in all the games. It’s not bad because we expected maximum points but one point is a bonus because what we want is to finish on a high. We cannot say it was a bad game. It was okay,” said Matore.
The Sunshine Boys had a better chance to take the lead especially after Dynamos drew 1-1 against Shabanie Mine but they failed to utilise the chances that came their way, making it difficult for themselves with only two games left before the end of the season.
Harare City’s first meaningful attempt came just 13 minutes into the game when Talent Chawapihwa’s shot from inside the box found its way at the back of the net through an opening on the side netting.
When the ball struck the nets, Harare City fans went into pre-mature celebrations thinking that their team had taken the lead but the effort was correctly disallowed.
The Sunshine Boys had several chances coming their way with Chawapihwa making a good cross from the left side but there were no takers inside the box.
Two minutes after the break, James Jam received a fine pass from Silas Songani but his effort from outside the box went wide, denying his side the much-needed goal that could have seen the Sunshine Boys collecting maximum points.
Harare City made some changes with Osborne Mukuradare coming in for Crybert Muvuti eight minutes into the second half and he could have scored from his first touch when his header went over the bar.
Relegated Motor Action were reduced to 10 men in the 67th minute when captain Passmore Bernard was sent for an early shower for a second bookable offence by referee Langton Chitsa after a dangerous tackle on Phenias Bamusi.
With the Mighty Bulls one man down, Harare City could have taken the advantage but they failed to convert the opportunities that came their way and Motor Action’s young goalkeeper Bernard Donovan made some crucial saves to keep his side in the game.
Their last chance came a minute into the added time when Munyaradzi Nyenye’s effort from outside the box was parried for a corner by Donovan.
Motor Action had their own chances with Scola Hadebe and Walter Musona creating some problems for the hosts but their efforts were not enough as they failed to score.
Hadebe missed his first attempt in the 23rd minute.
In the 60th minute, Wisdom Mtasa received a beautiful pass from Edward Tembo inside the box but failed to control the ball with only the goalkeeper to beat.
Teams
Harare City: M Nyamupangedengu, W Kalongonda, M Nyenye, C Dickson, D Kutyauripo, J Jam, S Songani, N Ziwini, M Vengesayi (W Manondo 57th minute), C Muvuti (O Mukuradare 53rd min), T Chawapihwa (P Bamusi 63rd minute).
Motor Action: B Donovan, W Musona, P Bernard, S Hadebe (D Mwanza 71st min), E Mandiranga (C Dhuwa 59th minute), W Mtasa, C Kwaramba, GMoyo, E Tembo, C Sibanda, D Walaza.
Bongani Ndlovu