Online Reporter
Robson Sharuko-H-Metro Editor
MARSHALL Munetsi made his debut for Wolverhampton yesterday — as H-Metro correctly reported last week.
Just a few days after arriving at his new base in England, the Warriors vice-captain was pushed into the heart of a battle in the world’s oldest and most prestigious knockout football tournament.
He came on as a 65th minute substitute while Wolves were enjoying a 2-0 lead over plucky Championship side Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park.
It meant that in his very first game in England, Munetsi graced an arena which celebrated a Premiership title when Blackburn Rovers, powered by Alan Shearer, won the Premiership title in 1995.
Munetsi’s next battle in the Wolves colours will be at Anfield when they take on Liverpool in a league match on Sunday.
The Zimbabwean star impressed in his first match for Wolves, with a largely flawless show, in a game in which he was played in a more advanced role.
He had the perfect chance to open his account, just minutes after coming in, when he got to the end of a ball swung in from the left but he failed to get the right connection with a yawning goal in front of him.
How did Munetsi’s 25 minutes pan out yesterday:
65th minute: Munetsi is introduced at Ewood Park, exactly sex days after he completed his move to Wolves when he passed his medical in Paris and signed a three-and-half year deal.
68th minute: His first touch in English football, deep in midfield, and with his back towards goal, he pushed the ball backwards with a simple pass.
70th minute: Pickpocketed possession, in typical Munetsi, bullying his opponent and taking control of the ball and then provided the pass of the game, pushed into the spaces down the right channel and invited his teammate to have a run at the Blackburn defence.
He sped into the box in anticipation of the cross and when it came Mattheus Cunha, the club’s poster boy and highest paid player, connected with the header but it went wide.
73rd minute: Munetsi should have opened his account when, after finding space in the box, he failed to get the connection he needed to head home with the ball grazing his head and going wide.
75th minute: Another great chance for Munetsi who, after the ball rolled into his path from a clearance from a corner, he connected with power but his shot lacked direction and it went wide.
80th minute: A poor back pass, his only mistake of the day, resulted in an opponent stealing possession and driving into the heart of the Blackburn defence before he was fouled and, from the resultant free-kick, the Wolves keeper saved a fierce shot.
