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Harare City. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 4
Hwange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(0) 1
MIDFIELDER Raphael Manuvire scored a brace and created another two as the Sunshine Boys eased pressure on coach Taurai Mangwiro with their second Castle Lager Premier Soccer League triumph of the season.
Fellow midfielders William Manondo and Tendai Samanja also found the net and celebrated both joined Manuvire in celebrating their goals by hugging Mangwiro.
Mangwiro went into the tie under pressure following a 1-2 defeat to Caps United last weekend and the Harare City mentor reckons yesterday’s performance was the perfect response.
“There was a lot of talk after the Caps United loss but the boys responded in a very perfect manner,” Mangwiro said.
“Manuvire did a perfect job and we know he can be a very influential player on his day. Their (scorers) decision to celebrate with me is a sign that we are a united family be it in happy or sad times and unity is very important in a team.
“However, we need to work on our game on the road because next we are travelling to FC Platinum and we need to work on defensive lapses in order to start picking points away from home.”
Mangwiro benched an out of form Ronald Chitiyo and the former Dynamos only came into the picture into the 68th minute.
Hwange came into the match on the back of a 2-0 win over debutants Ngezi Platinum and would have fancied their chances against an inconsistent City outfit.
However, the visitors were poor and could have been walloped a wider margin were it not for their 20-year-old goalie Future Sibanda.
However, there was nothing Sibanda could do to stop Manuvire from opening the scoring on 18 minutes.
The former ZPC Kariba player was given all the time in the world to control the ball inside the box and fire home.
Two minutes after the breather City won a corner kick and Manuvire cleverly played the ball to Samanja who was lurking on the edge of the box.
The dreadlocked defensive midfielder responded with a rising shot that negotiated its way past a crowded 18 area into Sibanda’s goal.
Manondo was the next beneficiary of Manuvire’s trickery and scored City’s third in the 78th minute.
With seven minutes remaining Manuvire delivered the final blow, slotting home a cross by second half substitute Kudakwashe Kumwala.Hwange scored their consolation in the last minute through Gift Mbweti.
Teams
Harare City: T Dube, B Moyo, A Chivheya, T Ndhlovu, J Tigere, F Madhanaga, T Samanja, M Vengesayi (R Chitiyo 68th), R Manuvire (B Maglasi 84th), G Kufandada (K Kumwala 66th), W Manondo
Hwange: F Sibanda, P Dube, G Ndlovu, D Boriwondo, P Mpelele, A Chuma, F Vimisayi (N Sianchali 53rd) C Muleya, A Banda (I Mucheneka 60th), G Zulu, G Mbweti
Online Reporter