Online Reporter
MOTHERWELL could struggle to keep Zimbabwe international Tawanda Maswanhise after his blistering start to the season.
The forward scored in his third consecutive game for the Scottish side on Saturday in a 1-1 draw with Dundee away, making it his seventh goal of the season.
At this rate, the former Leicester player could score 20 in all competitions by the end of the season, making him one of the most prolific scorers in that league.
On Saturday, Motherwell made it five draws from five in the 2025/26 season.
The goal from Maswanhise opened the scoring before Dundee levelled early in the second half.
In wet conditions, the first 10 minutes was played without any clear-cut chances.
The first half chance for the Steelmen arrived from a set piece, when Emmanuel Longelo delivered deep to the back post area for Apostolos Stamatelopoulos, who headed back across goal, but nobody in claret and amber was there to convert.
The next chance arrived shortly after nine minutes. Elliot Watt switched the play eloquently to Longelo, who worked the ball to Ibrahim Said, but the Nigerian fired high and wide.
Longelo was involved again after 15 minutes, winning the ball back on the edge of the Dundee penalty area. Stamatelopoulos fizzed a pass across to Tawanda Maswanhise, but his effort travelled over the bar.
After 22 minutes, Koutroumbis found himself behind the Dundee backline; he got to the byline and found Maswanhise, but his shot was blocked before it reached the target.
With Motherwell continuing to push for the opener, Longelo produced a wonderful bit of skill to beat his man in the wide area; he clipped the ball to Maswanhise whose header was caught by keeper Jon McCracken.
That was a warning sign. On 33 minutes, Maswanhise went one better. Picking up the ball 25 yards out, he drove into the box, beat his man and drilled into the net to open the scoring. 0-1.
Looking to start the second half in the same fashion, Motherwell took to the field with no changes to the lineup. But Dundee levelled the game on 48 minutes through Luke Graham, who finished past Ward to bring his side back into the game.
Shortly after, Jens Berthel Askou made his first changes, introducing Stephen O’Donnell and Elijah Just to the action. Charles-Cook came off having emptied his tank, with Johnny Koutroumbis also taken off. The changes had an instant impact and another pass to Maswanhise, who kept the ball in play, found Stamatelopoulos who couldn’t make a clean connection for what would have been a guaranteed goal. Instead the Aussie crashed into the post and required immediate attention on the pitch.
Maswanhise had a golden chance to net his second when he went through one-on-one with McCraken, but the keeper saved his finish.
Motherwellfc.co.uk/Zimpapers Sports Hub.
