Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo, Zimpapers Sports Hub
CAPS United 1-1 Triangle United
IAN Bakala knows exactly where his team stands. And after yesterday’s nervy draw against Triangle, the CAPS United coach didn’t sugar coat anything.
“The game was tough,” Bakala said. “But I’m happy the boys came back in the second half to equalise. Still, we’ve got a lot of work to do.”
Makepekepe needed a last minute equaliser from Ishmael Wadi to avoid what would’ve been a deflating home defeat, just a week after their morale boosting win over title contenders Scottland. But even with the point, they looked far from convincing.
This was a frustrating afternoon where the Green Machine showed flashes of fight but were ultimately let down by inconsistency and a disjointed attack.
For much of the second-half, they trailed to Joel Munsaka’s cheeky backheel, a goal that stunned the home crowd and seemed to knock the wind out of CAPS’ sails.
Triangle came into the match with purpose and played like a team desperate to climb out of danger. And they nearly pulled it off. Tawanda Chatuluka, electric on the flank, thought he had given them the lead early on but was flagged for offside. Moments later, he forced a sharp save from Stephen Kwaku.
In truth, Triangle were sharper, quicker, and more aggressive in the opening hour. They dominated the attacking stats, earning four corners before CAPS had a single one. Their experienced core, Ali Maliselo and captain Thabani Kamusoko, kept pulling strings in midfield, but the team’s old problem of poor finishing came back to haunt them.
CAPS looked sluggish in the final third. Kope Mugalu, isolated up top, often had to drop deep just to get on the ball. Their passes rarely found the final target. They lacked bite, until Bakala introduced Jayden Bakari with 17 minutes left, a change that injected urgency and rhythm.
With time almost up, Kelvin Mangiza whipped in a teasing free kick. Triangle keeper Wilson Changani misjudged it, and Ishmael Wadi pounced with a clever header to level matters.
Momentum shifted. CAPS pushed for the winner, spurred on by a vocal home crowd and six added minutes. But it was Triangle who nearly stole it, substitute Menford Mudzimu breaking into the box and firing low, only for Brian Kadamanja to pull off a last ditch block.
It was a wild end to a contest that could have gone either way, and Bakala wasn’t blind to his team’s shortcomings.
“We still have some work to do in the coming games. The league is a marathon.
“We have to fight for points. No team is lazy now, everyone is pushing, but we need to focus on ourselves,” he said.
CAPS United now sit on 24 points from 20 matches, still too close to the bottom for comfort.
Triangle coach Genesis Mangombe, though frustrated by the late goal, took the positives.
“We created several chances and stuck to our philosophy. I’m proud of how the boys played, especially away from home,” he said. “It’s just that mistake from my goalkeeper, he let the ball bounce. He should’ve done better. But we’ll fix it and move on,” he said.
Triangle are on 19 points, still in the relegation mix, but they looked a far more organised outfit than their league position suggests.
Teams
CAPS United XI: Stephen Kwaku, Brian Kadamanja, Chitoshi Chinga, Kelvin Mangiza, Hastings Chapusha, Tanaka Shandirwa, Kundai Benyu, Nyasha Chintuli (Jayden Bakari 73’), Phineas Bamusi, Ishmael Wadi, Kope Mugalu
Triangle XI: Wilson Changani, Jordan Pedra, Joel Munsaka, Munyaradzi Mawadza, Partson Jaure, Blessing Sarupinda (Menford Mudzimu 46’), Thabani Kamusoko, Aaron Zeka, Witness Shave (Praise Machengete 76’), Tawanda Chatuluka, Ali Maliselo
