Chronicle Editor
Tadious Manyepo, Harare Bureau
Herentals 4-1 Black Rhinos
UNFORGIVING Herentals were flawless as they launched an effective blitzkrieg on army side Black Rhinos who they floored in humiliating fashion in this one-sided Castle Lager Premiership tie at the National Sports Stadium yesterday.
Winger Archmore Majarira was the toast of the show, grabbing a fine brace and setting up another for his sibling Brighton while 46-year old club proprietor Innocent Benza sealed the rout for Kumbirai Mutiwekuziva’s charges.
Black Rhinos, who only 10 days ago fired seven past Mutare City without conceding any at the same venue, were always nervous and never looked ready for Herentals who for larger parts of the game looked like perfecting drills in a training session.
A clumsy defensive error by captain Bruce Homora three minutes into the game allowed Brighton Majarira to head past an off-guard Rhinos goalkeeper Ashley Rayners.
Despite conceding early Rhinos chose to sit back, employing an ineffective zonal defensive system and it was not long before Archmore, who bossed his way doubled the hosts’ advantage when he beat a terribly off-form Rayners with a low shot at the near post.
Rhinos coach Herbert Maruwa responded by pulling out Cliff Chitsamba for Edgar Chigiji on the hour mark and for once the soldiers came out of their shell when the substitute wrestled the ball from Carlos Mavhurume and planted a low effort to the bottom corner, seven minutes after his introduction.
It could have been a different script at half time had Allan Gahadzikwa been composed enough not to sky his effort without any challenge whatsoever inside the box, a minute before the break.
But, that glaring miss by Gahadzikwa was the last meaningful chance Rhinos would create.
After the break Herentals seized control of proceedings and six minutes into the second period substitute Blessing Majarira dribbled past two opponents before releasing a ferocious shot which was turned in by Benza for his second goal of the season and Herentals’ third of the day.
As Rhinos tried to push for a goal to reduce the arrears, Herentals caught them on the counter with Majarira putting the game to bed.
The result saw Herentals leapfrogging Maruwa’s men as well as ZPC Kariba into eighth place with 38 points while Rhinos dropped to ninth and a point behind.
Mutiwekuziva was delighted with his side’s biggest win of the season.
“It’s a very important win over Black Rhinos given the rivalry existing between us.
“It’s good for us as the win takes us to a comfortable zone in terms of breathing space in as far as relegation worries are concerned.
“I am very delighted with the performance of the guys, they played according to instruction.
“The coordination, cohesion and transition were pin-point… I was very much delighted by what I saw.
“For the first time this season, we did score many goals which is a sign of what we are practicing at the training ground.
“From day one of the Premiership, we have not been scoring, we have not been able to utilise all the chances which we were creating.
“It has always been the rhetoric, creating much but failing to score, but in this match, we showed what we are capable of doing. I am very happy for the boys,” Mutiwekuziva said.
Maruwa, was naturally disappointed after seeing his charges crumble in humiliating fashion.
“The big win will boost our confidence levels, we hope to see more of this going forward as we now want to finish the season strongly.
“It’s quite disappointing to have lost all the points and it’s even disheartening to lose by such a wide margin,” said Maruwa.
“We are a reputable team who should routinely perform well and to lose against Herentals by such a margin is not a good thing but credit to them they played well, no doubt about that.
“We conceded an early goal and before we could find our footing, we conceded again.
“When we tried to come back into the match, it was too little too late. That’s football.
“But, I am particularly disappointed by my defence, they let in silly goals.
“I can’t blame the goalkeeper alone for the goals but the whole defence didn’t come to the party. I am disappointed,”
Teams
Herentals
S. Gondo, A. Majarira (T. Benza”72nd min) , C. Mavhurume, E. Feremba (B. Majarira 48th min) W. Chimbetu, G. Chinobva, I. Benza, B. Maunganidze, R. Hachiro(W. Kapumha 72nd min) , P. Chota, B. Majarira
Black Rhinos
A. Reyners, L. Chiunga, M. Mambare, T. Jaravani, W. Taderera, D. Mudadi(N. Padzarondora 72nd min) , A. Gahadzikwa( M. Makuwe 60th min) , C. Chitsamba (E. Chigiji 29th min) , F. Banda, S. Jimu, B. Homora
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