admin
Tobias Mandoreba in HWANGE
Hwange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 1
Ngezi Platinum . . . . . . . . . . . 0
IN-FORM Hwange produced a dazzling performance to beat table toppers Ngezi Platinum Stars in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer league match at the Colliery.
A well taken goal by big striker Pritchard Mpelele, in the last minute of the game, gave the coalminers the deserved three points for their sweat and in the process left the entire Ngezi Platinum Stars camp in disbelief.
A long throw in by midfield workhorse Shepard Gadzikwa landed on Mpelele’s right foot with the striker obliging by toe, to poke the ball home through the legs of substitute goalkeeper Nelson Chadya.
Chadya had replaced Chang Mariyoni in the 17th minute through injury.
The goal brought the roof down in the packed Colliery Stadium as the home fans celebrated wildly for beating the league pacesetters and also ease their relegation fears.
Chipangano were quick off the blocks in the game and started harassing the visitors from the first whistle and with precision in front of goal, they could have wrapped up the match as a contest in the opening half.
Ngezi Platinum Stars’ only chance at goal in a subdued first half performance only came ten minutes from the breather when Marlvin Kwinjo’s ferocious freekick from the edge of the box was fisted away by agile Hwange shotstopper Nedrick Madeya.
In the sixth minute, Mariyoni had shown his alertness in-between the sticks as he denied Marceline Mlilo with a one hand save from close range before again smothering Hwange striker Brighton Makopa from a one on one situation.
Mariyoni got injured and was reaplaced by Chadya, who was immediately forced into action with a fine save in the 25th minute as he acrobatically tipped a venomous Mlilo freekick over the bar for a corner kick.
Hwange continued to dictate the game with some lovely interplay punctuated with some crisp passes revolving around veteran Canaan Nkomo and Solomon Sithole.
However, the goal could not come until the breather.
Ngezi Platinum Stars had started playing like a team chasing their historic first league title in the last half especially when coach Chiragwi made a triple substitution midway in the second half.
The pint sized and soft spoken gaffer threw into the fray Qadar Amini, Nigel Makumbe and Tapiwa Mandinyenya for Marlvin Kwinjo, Bruno Mtigo and Malvin Gaki but their forays upfront were continously repelled by Chipangano defence of Godwin Goriyati, Lucas Sibanda , Gift Gumpo and Mumpande.
With the Hwange fans getting frustrated by each passing minute that their team would come out with only a point for their stellar performance, the football Gods smiled on the hosts as substitute Mpelele made sure of maximum points at the death with a goal that sent the local fans into a frenzy.
The look on the faces of the Ngezi bench and players told a big story of anguish, despair and desolation.
As per the norm now, after some gruelling and hair raising encounters, Hwange head coach Nation Dube had no voice after the match and delegated post match duties to goalkeeper’s coach Edmore Sibanda.
Sibanda said:
“The boys played very well and according to instructions and I am happy that we have a squad that can help us avoid relegation. We played as a unit and it paid off. It’s a good day for our supporters,” said Sibanda.
His opposite number Chiragwi accepted the result and said its time focus on next game.
“It was generally a good game of football and both teams enjoyed the contest but in football there are three results.
“We got chances and they had their own and took one at the end.
“We have to pick ourselves up for the next midweek game. I thought we could come away with a draw but it was not the case and its part of football,” said Chiragwi.
Online Reporter