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THE encounter was a big yawn for the better part of the day but that did not hinder home side Chicken Inn from collecting maximum at the expense of the visiting CAPS United in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League tie at Luveve yesterday.
Joint top goal-scorer in the PSL Tendai Ndoro will probably be the first one to admit that even up to now, he still does not know how he managed to scramble the 77th minute goal which proved to be the difference between a defeat, draw and a win.
Ndoro received a direct pass inside the box and worked his way past two defenders, although a bit clumsily and his first attempt saw him cause havoc to the Luveve turf but still found himself in possession as the CAPS United defenders took ages to clear.
In the meantime the angle was narrowing and for a split second, visitors goalkeeper Tafadzwa Dube might have thought the ball had crossed the line but at that moment, Ndoro struck at the tightest of angles with the ball finding the back of the far post.
“I am obviously relieved with the win after the bad patch,” said a clearly elated Gamecocks coach Mandla Mpofu after the match.
It was Chicken Inn’s first win after three losses on the trot while for Makepekepe, it was their first loss following two wins since the return of Taurai Mangwiro.
“I think coming from a high scoring win, the boys might have taken it easily yet it was clear that Chicken Inn would fight until the end,” said Mangwiro.
The game though failed to live up to expectations but the home side were the first to ask questions in the visitors’ goal area with Cabby Kamhapa’s shot from outside the box going over the bar on the 5th minute.
Two minutes later, exciting striker Tawanda Nyamandwe controlled the ball beautifully from just outside the box before letting loose a dipping volley that however went over the bar too although Njabulo Nyoni, in goals for Chicken Inn will argue and say he had it covered all the way.
Nyamandwe’s trickery and danger saw him attracting the attention of the burly Chicken Inn skipper, Guide Goddard who made his life so uncomfortable afterwards.
It was even worse in the second half as Goddard never gave Nyamandwe a chance.
CAPS tried to launch their attacks from the wings with Takudzwa Mahori venturing forward now and again and although he was getting some avenues in the early stages, young Tonisani Sibelo picked up his game and when that happened, life became uncomfortable.
Their driving force, Hardlife Zvirekwi was always a threat whenever in possession but with their plan of attacking from the wings having been thwarted, the central defence was the next option, but a difficult one for it was where Goddard and hard tackling Zephania Ngodzo were operating from.
The second half saw a slightly improved performance by the two sides although there were no real clear cut and methodical build-ups towards goal.
It then was left to individual brilliance to try and unlock their opponents and that was CAPS United’s biggest undoing as Zvirekwi ended up being injured although he tried to soldier on before he was eventually taken out.
“We had to make an injury inspired substitution and in a way you can say that somehow affected our game plan,” said Mangwiro.
As the game wore on and with some fans already predicting a draw, Chicken Inn found that much needed breakthrough, 13 minutes before time.
CAPS could have pulled a sensational equalizer right at the end but striker Dominic Chungwa, when face to face with goalkeeper Nyoni could only manage to fall down before even kicking the ball and Nyoni had the easiest of tasks.
Sensing victory and in a move meant to consolidate that lead, Mpofu brought in Felix Chindungwe for forward Tendai Goredema and Makepekepe’s fate was sealed.
Mangwiro said while the defeat was disappointing, it was water under the bridge and they should now concentrate on their next assignment.
Teams
Chicken Inn: N Nyoni, T Sibelo, G Goddard, Z Ngodzo, B Mbiriri, D Phiri, T Goredema (F Chindungwe 85th min), K Mahachi (N Makhosi 92nd min), T Ndoro, M Marima (M Dube 67th min), C Kamhapa.
Caps United: T Dube, T Mahori (M Muchenje 65th min), R Pfumbidzai, G Magariro, A Chiveya, T Samanja, H Zvirekwi (D Rediyoni 75th min), D Chungwa, T Nyamandwe, J Mutambiranwa, T Kumbuyani.
Online Reporter