Masvingo, Shabanie draw

Premiership tie at Mucheke yesterday.
Una Una failed to utilise their home advantage and allowed Shabanie Mine to walk away from Mucheke with a vital away point in a match that was marred by scenes of fans trading blows the terraces.

The hosts took the lead in the 18th minute when Pervington Zimunya converted from the penalty spot after Mutare-based referee Langton Chitsa had ruled that Shabanie Mine goalkeeper Victor Twaliki had pulled down Zimunya, who was clear on goal.
Masvingo pushed forward, looking to increase the lead but it was Shabanie Mine who evened the scores in the 27th minute when Tafadzwa Mombeshora headed home after getting to the end of a cross from Caleb Masocha.

Mombeshora’s well placed header beat Masvingo United goalkeeper, Dzingai Murinye.
With the scores level, Shabanie were spurred on and continued to raid the Masvingo goal area.

It did not come as a surprise when the visitors shot into the lead in the 43rd minute.
The hard-running Masocha connected a fine pass from the dreadlocked midfielder Kudzanayi Kwashi to silence the home fans.

After the break, Masvingo did not give up as they continued to search for an equaliser.
Una Una were duly rewarded, once again, through a penalty after a Shabanie Mine defender had tripped Isaac Chapura.

Up stepped Zimunya to convert the spot kick that was heavily contested by the visitors.
As Shabanie were disputing the penalty, there was trouble in the terraces as supporters clashed with a Masvingo fan receiving a cut on his head and had to be rushed to hospital after he was hit by a bottle.

Police moved into the grand stands to calm the situation that remained tense until the end of the match.
Masvingo United thought they had restored the lead in the 74th minute when Chapura scored but the referee disallowed the effort.

Referee Chitsa also denied Shabanie a goal when Zvenyika Makonese, now playing as a striker scored in the 77th minute but it was deemed off-side.
Shabanie Mine coach Luke Masomere believed Chitsa made a number of dubious decisions against his side.

“I bemoan the bad officiating by Chitsa and will question the two penalties given against us,” said Masomere – who moved from Una Una earlier this season.
However, Saul Chaminuka, the Masvingo United coach was happy to get the point.

“We could have won the game had we converted the chances that came our way but at least it was fair result,” said Chaminuka.