adminChicken Inn …………………………………….. (0) 2
Hwange ………………………………………………… 0
A SECOND half brace from striker Michelle Katsvairo ensured Chicken Inn of safe passage into the Chibuku Super Cup quarterfinals over a physical Hwange in a first round match played at Luveve Stadium yesterday.
Katsvairo converted a contentious penalty early into the second half and then rounded off the scoring with a brilliantly struck goal right at the death to send Chicken Inn, knocked out by How Mine in the first round of the same competition last time, to the last eight.
The Gamecocks had to make three injury-influenced substitutions against a physical Hwange side that saw Clemence Matawu, Passmore Bernard and Tafadzwa Kutinyu withdrawn during the match.
Edmore Chirambadare, outstanding all afternoon with his deft touches, had the first shot on target 10 minutes into the match. A superb attempt from a free kick that he had earned was saved by Hwange goalkeeper Takabva Mawaya.
Hwange had a great opportunity to score 10 minutes before the end of the first half with Farai Vimisayi forcing Pride “Cool Cat’’ Zendera, chosen ahead of regular Elvis Chipezeze in goals for Chicken Inn, into making a good save when being sent through by Gilbert Zulu.
Katsvairo missed an opportunity to put the Gamacocks ahead when he headed wide two minutes before the end of the first half from a Moses Jackson cross on the right.
Chicken Inn were awarded a penalty five minutes into the second half when referee Nkosana Nduna pointed to the spot for an infringement inside the box. The Hwange players and officials protested the decision which led to a five minutes stoppage as the players gathered around coach Nation Dube.
When play eventually resumed, Katsvairo sent Mawaya the wrong way to put the Gamecocks in front.
Chirambadare continued to torment the Hwange defence, having a goal attempt saved by Mawaya in the 65th minute.
Two minutes later, Zendera was called into action to shut out Tafara Chese, the goalkeeper doing well to push the ball out for a corner. Zendera preserved the Chicken Inn lead in the 72nd minute with another great save off an Innocent Mucheneka strike.
Hwange were not willing to give up without a fight, veteran Zulu’s attempt in the 77th minute was kept out by some brilliant piece of goalkeeping by Zendera. A few moments later, Rodwell Chinyengetere’s superb shot at goal went over the posts.
Katsvairo snuffed out any remaining hopes of a Hwange comeback, taking full advantage of a defensive blunder by the visitors, his first time strike went into the nets in the 90th minute.
Hwange coach Dube had no kind words for the match officials calling for action to be taken against them because the penalty killed off his players’ spirits.
“These referees something needs to be done about them, the damage was already done with that penalty. It was hard for my players to come back after that. It was a dull game, there was no passing done during the match,’’ said Dube.
His Chicken Inn counterpart Joey Antipas was a happy man, describing the match as being a characteristic of a cup encounter with not much space to manoeuvre.
“It was a typical cup match without much space, both teams played it tight, it was about grinding out a result. It is a pity we had to make three injury forced substitutions, Matawu had a head injury, Kutinyu ankle and Passmore pulled a muscle,’’ said Antipas.
Teams
Chicken Inn: Pride Zendera, Brian Mbiriri, Lawrence Mhlanga, Passmore Bernard(Goddard 37 minutes), Bhekimpilo Ncube, Clemence Matawu(Temwanjira 46 minutes), Moses Jackson, Tafadzwa Kutinyu(Goredema 49 minutes), Danny Phiri, Edmore Chirambadare, Michelle Katsvairo
Hwange: Takabva Mawaya, Andrew Chuma, David Boriwondo, Gerald Ndlovu, Munyaradzi Mungadze, Collen Muleya, Innocent Mucheneka, Farai Vimbisayi(Sianchali 71 minutes), Tafara Chese, Rodwell Chinyengetere, Gilbert Zulu
Online Reporter