Chronicle Editor
Tobias Mandoreba Hwange Correspondent
Hwange FC 3-1 Yadah FC
THERE was a huge sigh of relief on the entire Hwange technical bench after the match as the coalminers put a blistering second-half show to neutralise the “anointing oil” effects of 10-man Yadah FC in a cracking Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at the Colliery Stadium yesterday.
Yadah made a mockery of playing with a numerical disadvantage from the quarter hour mark in the opening half after Tanaka Chikumba was shown a second yellow card by impressive Bulawayo referee Allen Basvi for rough play on Brendon Rendo to leave Yadah with a mountain to climb.
From the resultant free-kick, midfield veteran, Canaan Nkomo’s dangerous freekick was spilled by goalkeeper Panashe Nyasunga on the path of overlapping defender Godwin Goriyati who made no mistake by stabbing home from close range.
The goal didn’t dampen Yadah’s spirits as they took the game to Hwange with some purposeful play revolving around King Nadolo, Jerry Chipangura and Prosper Kafelapanjila and it was no surprise when they drew level 10 minutes from the breather through Kafelapanjila after a dazzling counter attack caught Chipangano by suprise and left goalkeeper Nedrick Madeya hugely exposed in goal.
Yadah continued to harass Hwange and Nadolo almost grabbed the lead four minutes after half-time only to be denied by a brilliant save by Madeya.
Hwange fans’ frustrations grew as the match progressed as Yadah continued to be defiant and looking dangerous on all the forays going forward until the magical substitution by the Hwange bench 15 minutes from the end when Courage Sibanda and Pritchard Mpelele came in for Brighton Makopa and Shepherd Gadzikwa respectively.
This tactical change was the turning point as Sibanda scored four minutes after his introduction as he headed home a teasing Nkomo cross into the roof of the net to leave Hwange fans in a delirium.
Two minutes from the end another substitute Lloyd Mutoma put the final nail in Yadah’s coffin with a fine finish after latching on a to a cross from Claivert Tshuma, who had come in for defender Raylton Maphosa in the 57th minute.
Mutoma replaced James Chivasa at the same time as Tshuma in another double substitution by the hosts.
After Bhasvi’s final whistle, the Hwange bench celebrated like they had won a major cup final as pressure was starting to mount on Bongani Mafu and crew following a string of uninspiring performances which has left Hwange on the cusp of the dreaded red zone on the table.
“The result is fantastic and we are very happy. The second-half was the turning point of the match as the fresh legs helped us prevail,” said Nation Dube, with a glowing face after the match.
His opposite number Maxwell Takaendesa Jongwe said it was always going to be difficult to get any result with 10 players left early into the match.
Teams
Hwange: N Madeya; J Mumpande; B Mlotshwa; R Maphosa (C Tshuma 57th minute); G Goriyati; T Goredema; J Chivasa (L Mutoma 57th minute); S Gadzikwa (P Mpelele 75th minute); C Nkomo; B Rendo (B Ngoma 47th minute); B Makopa (C Sibanda 75th minute)
Yadah: P Nyasunga; A Gwatidzo; B Ndereki 65th min); K Nadolo (K Juru 88rd min); C Mandivei; B Kadamanja; M Faranando; T Chikunba; P Kafelapanjila; R Chifura (I Masiwa 80th minute); J Chipangura (T Musariri 65th minute); L Mucheto. — @tobymandox.
Online Reporter