adminThe Green Machine was well oiled yesterday as they twice came back from behind only to succumb to a very late goal from double scorer Gilbert Zulu which virtually left expatriate coach Sean Connor running short of oxygen to breathe into his faltering campaign.
With the match heading for a share of the spoils in this cliff-hanger tie which had all the thrills, Zulu picked a loose ball in the 86th minute just outside the box and surprised big goalkeeper Edmore Sibanda with a shot which hit the roof of the nets to leave the vocal Makepekepe fans deflated.
Caps United have now gone for a total of 360 minutes without a win after defeats to Highlanders, Dynamos before back-to-back losses to the coalminers.
Football is cruel at times, as the visitors were more purposeful from the first whistle by Bulawayo referee Bryton Malandule with their first real chance at goal coming on the quarter hour mark when dangerman Shingi Kawondera’s cross was hooked away for a corner by steady defender Gerald Ndlovu before Clive Kawinga could bury the opportunity.
Eight minutes later Hwange raced into the lead after Daniel Kamunenga converted from the spot after Kawinga, who got a yellow card for his troubles, had pulled down David Boriwondo in a goalmouth melee following a Munyaradzi Mungadze curling corner kick.
Caps players protested and threatened to walk off the pitch only to be restrained by their bench before the spot kick was taken.
The visitors were simply in a business mood as they virtually camped in the Hwange half and were rewarded for their sweat in the 42th minute when defender Nyasha Mukumbi rose high to head in a Rahman Kutsanzira free kick after the Hwange rearguard went into a slumber.
It was, however, the hosts who could have started the second half smiling but it was not to be after Tawanda Mareya produced the miss of the afternoon in the 47th minute with a miscued effort in front of a yawning net after he had benefited from some donkey work on the left flank by big striker Fransesco Zekumbawire.
Big Caps goalminder Sibanda had just rammed his second free kick into the Hwange wall before the coalminers restored their lead in the 58th minute through a beautifully taken goal by Zulu.
The striker latched on to a pass from Nkosana Siwela in the middle of the park before he outpaced Blessing Zabula and released a stinging 30 metre volley which left Sibanda rooted on the same spot.
Caps had not travelled all the way from Harare for a picnic; they refused to give up and again laid siege on the Hwange half with some dangerous forays which revolved around Kawondera, David Rediyoni and Kutsanzira.
In the 73rd minute the green part of the stadium erupted in jubilation as substitute Leonard Fiyado equalised with his first touch of the ball. He had come in the 75th for Hardlife Zvirekwi.
Caps then threatened to end their gloomy spell but Zulu had other ideas as he grabbed the late winner that ensured the hosts start their slow ascent to the upper rungs of the table.
Connor poured all his anger on the match on referee Malandule for the loss.
“I am very disappointed over the penalty awarded to Hwange as it cost us the game. We were not supposed to lose this game, Hwange scored three goals but that was not supposed to be the case,” said the visibly disappointed Irishman.
Tennant Chilumba, who prevailed in the battle of expatriates, was all smiles after the game.
“It is a very good result as the boys played according to instructions. It’s great to win two games in a row against a team like Caps,” he said.
Teams:
Hwange: T Sibanda (Petros Mhari 30th min), E Chipeta, D Borowondo, G Ndlovu, M Mungadze, T Mareya (T Mamina 73th min), M Mpofu, D Kamunenga, N Siwela, G Zulu, F Zekumbawire.
Caps United: E Sibanda, E Chafungamoyo, S Kawondera, C Kawinga, T Khumbuyani, R Kutsanzira (T Samanja 88th min), N Mukumbi, D Rediyoni, D Walaza, B Zabula, H Zvirekwi (L Fiyado75th min).
Online Reporter