Online Reporter
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
MUTARE-BASED Castle Lager Premiership side Manica Diamonds’ relegation woes deepened this afternoon after slumping to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of CAPS United at Sakubva Stadium.
Sixteen minutes into the encounter, CAPS United spurned a golden opportunity to take the lead when a defence-splitting pass from Chawangwa Kaonga found Obriel Chirinda unmarked on the edge of the box, but the forward blazed his effort well off target.
Charles ‘Teko’ Teguru then threatened for the home side in the 27th minute, skinning a CAPS United defender on the right before laying the ball to Philip Maseke, whose delightful cross flashed across the face of goal with no takers, resulting in a goal-kick for the visitors.
Three minutes later, Manica Diamonds centre-back and captain, Lawrence Masibera’s crude challenge on Kaonga conceded a free-kick on the edge of the area.
From the resultant set-piece, Kaonga drilled a hard, low shot past a slightly deflected wall, leaving goalkeeper Godfrey Chitsumba with no chance as the Green Machine took a deserved lead. Washington Arubi produced a spectacular save in the 62nd minute to deny Divine Zulu, whose close-range header looked destined for the net before the Mutare-born shot-stopper reacted sharply to parry the effort to safety.
CAPS United doubled their advantage in the 68th minute when expatriate Kope Mugalu pounced on a rebound and unleashed a scorcher to seal victory.
Ends
