Online Reporter
Zimpapers Sports Hub
IT was yet another dramatic day in what is turning out to be a frenetic end to the 2025 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season, as a series of draws meant positions of most teams fighting the dreaded chop remained largely unchanged.
All but one of the nine matches involving teams in the relegation matrix yielded a win, with the rest ending in deadlocks.
Triangle did themselves a world of good in their bid to swim to safety after a 4-0 win over already doomed Kwekwe United at Gibbo Stadium.
Dynamos, Yadah, GreenFuel, Bikita Minerals, Chicken Inn, CAPS United, Manica Diamonds and Highlanders all drew their respective matches.
Late drama at Ngoni Stadium
Hosts Yadah and visitors Dynamos arrived at Ngoni Stadium in Norton with either side seeking a win to enhance their survival bid.
However, both teams incidentally found the target at the death, with former SuperSport United striker Evans Rusike seemingly winning it for Yadah with a 90th-minute goal.
But as they have often done since coach Kelvin Kaindu’s arrival, Dynamos conjured up an equaliser two minutes into the referee’s optional time, with Ghanaian import Issaka Mohammed levelling matters and forcing a share of the spoils.
It may be the most important goal that Mohammed has scored for Dynamos this season as it rescued them from the jaws of a defeat that could have been catastrophic.
Instead, Dynamos will now go into the final day of the season knowing they are two rungs up the last relegation spot.
Yadah are now on 35 points on the log table and remain stuck on 17th place.
Their coach Brenna Msiska was left teary-eyed and distraught after the match.
“We are now in a very compromised position. I do not know what exactly will happen, but it should be a must-win in our last game,’’ Msiska said.
MWOS fail to break Rufaro jinx
CAPS United president Farai Jere would be justified to feel short-changed by his players given how much he has invested in the team this season.
At Rufaro Stadium yesterday, Makepekepe laboured to a goalless draw against MWOS, with most of the players in the team failing to justify why they are at the Premiership giants.
But they will still relish the point gained as it virtually guaranteed their safety after taking their points tally to 40.
CAPS United only came to life in the second half after the introduction of midfielder Tanaka Shandirwa.
Captain Phineas Bamusi also had a decent outing.
Save for those two, most of the players were below par.
Striker Ishmael Wadi’s second-half miss is now a big contender for miss of the season.
Wadi did the unimaginable, as he somehow skied his effort, with MWOS keeper Martin Mapisa an already beaten man.
Nyasha Chintuli also came close, getting to the end of a cross from DRC striker Chris Mugalu from the right but Mapisa was up to the task.
Premiership debutants MWOS cemented their chances of finishing second behind champions Scottland.
In the end, it did not matter that MWOS failed to win at Rufaro on the third attempt, as the Punters moved to 59 points, one clear of Simba Bhora, who were held at Bikita Minerals.
Lloyd Mutasa’s men will also end the season without losing to CAPS United. They won the reverse fixture at Ngoni Stadium, where they also dumped Makepekepe out of the Chibuku Super Cup.
Triangle keep heads above the water
Triangle maintained their hopes of survival as they sit just one place above the drop zone on 37 points after goals by Prince Ndiripo (his first for the Lowveld side), Ali Sadiki from the penalty spot and a brace from Elton Njini.
“It’s a good result for us considering the way Kwekwe played. They played very well and made us work for the victory,” said Triangle coach Genesis Mangombe.
“We capitalised on the chances we created, and the goals scored have surely given us a healthy goal difference, and that will come in handy as we fight for survival. This result gives us the much-needed confidence going into the last game against GreenFuel.”
Kwekwe United coach Gift Muzadzi said Triangle deserved to win.
Bosso falter as Gem Boys salvage crucial point
Highlanders have only themselves to blame after a poor second-half display saw Manica Diamonds salvage a crucial point away from home with a 1-1 draw at Barbourfields.
Having led 1-0 at the break, Bosso’s defenders were caught napping in the second half as goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda failed to deal with what looked like an easy take, allowing Evans Katema to slot home in the 65th minute from close range. The match, played under light showers, started with Bosso showing early intent.
Highlanders broke the deadlock in the 31st minute after some sustained pressure, finding the target through Melikhaya Ncube in a two-man move involving defender Andrew Mbeba.
Highlanders coach Pieter de Jongh expressed his frustration after the draw.
“It’s a disappointing result because we controlled 80-85 minutes of the game. We led 1-0, created chances but the second goal did not come. One moment, a mistake from the keeper and then it’s 1-1,” he said.
Manica Diamonds coach Tafadzwa Mashiri was pleased with his side’s disciplined performance.
“I think we played according to the game plan. We said we needed to restrict them. Highlanders have massive, cheerful fans, and I told my guys to guard against that, and they did just that,” said Mashiri.
Both teams now sit on 38 points with one match remaining.
Tinaye Agere