Zimpapers Sports Reporters
HARDROCK could win the Castle Lager Premiership in their debut season if they go on to win all their remaining four games.
This is after they moved to the top of the table yesterday after beating Bulawayo Chiefs 2-0 while Scottland were shocked 1-0 by ZPC Kariba at Nyamhunga.
Hardrock are now two points clear at the top with 63 points while Scottland are second on 61 points.
At Chahwanda, Washington Navaya broke the deadlock, scoring his 17th Premier League goal of the season from the penalty spot.
Neliswa “Tiger” Dlamini ended the game as a contest with a stunning finish at the death to complete Hardrock’s return to winning ways.
On the penalty decision, tempers flared as Chiefs players repeated what they did during the Chibuku Super Cup Round of 16, mobbing and pushing the referee in protest.
The defeat came on a day Chiefs had mounted a solid defensive display in the first half, effectively parking the bus and frustrating Hardrock’s attackers for long periods.
The low block almost paid off when they nearly punished Hardrock on the counter-attack towards the end of the first half through Brain Muza.
In the middle of the park, Hardrock’s Eswatini import Sizwe Yeki Khumalo was the chief architect, dictating play with composure and vision.
Hardrock coach Kelvin Kaindu admitted his side had to dig deep against a tactically organised Chiefs side.
“I think it’s a good response after a disappointing weekend we had last week. We responded very well by picking up a very, very important win.
“The unfortunate part is the few chances that we missed in the first half but the moment we managed to get a goal in the second half the game opened up a bit for us, we were even able to get the second goal,” said Kaindu.
Bulawayo Chiefs coach John Nyikadzino said: “I can say I’m very much disappointed especially that we work at training, the way we try to control the game, the way we try to manage the game, especially how we played in the first half. Unfortunately we ended up losing the match in the second half.”
For ZPC Kariba, it was Brian Kusinyeri who scored the all-important goal and Scottland could not find their way back into the game.
The defeat puts a lot of pressure on Scottland, who may end up playing in the CAF Confederation Cup if Hardrock win the league while they win the Chibuku Super Cup.
At Rufaro, MWOS coach Lloyd Mutasa had the temerity of throwing in 14-year-old Ethan Tamson, son of club owner Patrick, when his side coasted to a historic 2-0 win over Herentals yesterday.
Marlvern Mudzuka and Wilson Mensah scored in a dominant first half.
Mutasa described the win, which pushed his team to 42 points, as “fulfilling.”
It was also The Punters’ 10th win of the season.
“I think it was very important. If I still remember, we lost twice against the Herentals.
“I think the boys really played the way they trained, they fought for the ball,” said MWOS coach Mutasa.
“I think with a few touches that he got, we tried to make him believe that that’s where he’s going and with time, he will get there,” said Mutasa.
Herentals coach Paul Benza said his team was not under any pressure despite the loss.
“Credit goes to MWOS they played well,” said Benza.
“We will take one game as it comes and we are going to fight up to the end.
“The interesting thing is that teams are also losing points. So we are not going to lose hope until the last game.”
In Sakubva, Manica Diamonds and TelOne played out a goalless stalemate in a lukewarm Premier Soccer League encounter in which both teams badly needed maximum points to evade relegation.
Both teams are rooted to the bottom of the Premier Soccer League table and their chances of survival, especially for Manica Diamonds, are now more mathematical than practical.
The Manica Diamonds family seems to have accepted their fate as only vice-chairman Masimba Chihowa was visible in the small Sakubva Stadium VIP enclosure while all other club executive committee members, who have regularly attended the club’s home matches in their numbers, were conspicuous by their absence.
FC Platinum showed the value of tactical discipline and a well-organised passing game as they frustrated Chicken Inn on their home turf, with the visitors refusing to be drawn out of their defensive shape despite pressure from the hosts.
The match ended goalless.
Chicken Inn tried to use home advantage to take control of the match, but FC Platinum were equally comfortable on the ball, patiently moving it around as they looked to dictate the tempo.
Chicken Inn coach Tonderai Ndiraya admitted that the result was disappointing, particularly because his team was at home.
“It’s not a good result for us, especially given that we were playing at home. When you are playing at home, you expect maximum points,” said Ndiraya.
“We had about three chances which I think we should have taken.”
FC Platinum coach Thabo Senong said: “I think our boys did well, especially in denying Michael Charamba,” he said.
FC Hunters on the other hand moved further away from the bottom teams after dismissing troubled Agama 2-1.
Dzvukamanja and Michael Tapera were on target for FC Hunters while Richard Kumi had levelled to give Agama hope.
