Online Reporter
Bruce Chikuni-Sports Reporter
IMPRESSIVE newboys MWOS finally lost a match in the Castle Lager Premiership in their 17th game of the season, on the halfway point of the campaign and, maybe, it was something that had been coming in recent weeks.
Lloyd Mutasa and his men, who have transformed themselves into the sweethearts of the domestic Premiership with a fairytale start to the campaign, crashed to a 1-3 defeat at the hands of neighbours Ngezi Platinum Stars at Baobab yesterday.
It was their first defeat in the top-flight league.
Maybe, there were some signs, in recent weeks, that this was coming.
In their last two games, Mutasa’s men laboured to a 2-2 draw against Triangle at Gibbo where the hosts even claimed that one of the visitors’ goals did not cross the line.
Then, on Thursday, they needed a late penalty miss from CAPS United’s Eric Manokore at Ngoni.
MWOS won that match 2-1.
Yesterday, their lengthy unbeaten run was ended by former champions Ngezi.
Takesure Chiragwi became the first coach to inflict pain on MWOS fans in the Premiership.
Prior to this match, MWOS had managed nine wins and seven draws.
This means the Punters have now finished the first round of the campaign just a point behind leaders, Simba Bhora who claimed a 1-0 over Yadah, to take their tally to 35 points.
The hosts bossed the match on both ends as they minimised the visitors chances of extending their unbeaten run.
The absence of the MWOS’ midfield duo of Tinotenda Mutyambizi and Valentine Katsande appeared to have weighed down on the Punters heavily.
They looked lifeless in the middle of the park where they have thrived this season and Mutasa felt their absence had a significant impact.
His counterpart Chiragwi congested his midfield with players who fed Obriel Chirinda with some fine opportunities.
Chirinda was the hero with a brace.
Mutasa said he knew this day was coming and it was not the end of the world.
“I think it was a difficult match, a match that we really were never in from the very start. But we knew that one day such a result would come, such is football,” said Mutasa.
“In football there are three results but I would like to applaud my charges for holding on until today (yesterday).
“It’s part and parcel of football, we get beaten, but this is not the end of the world.
“I think we started slowly, even conceding under three minutes. I think we failed to come into the groove in time and eventually we were never there. We were not ourselves.”
Chiragwi hailed his men.
“I want to give thanks to God for this result, it means a lot to the players and fans who have been waiting for this moment.
“We have been unfortunate in our recent fixtures but I just hope that this is the beginning of better things to come in the second round.”
Chirinda fired the hosts ahead just after three minutes of action, profiting from the visitors’ schoolboy defending.
Ashwin Karengezha failed to extend their lead off a rebound from another attempt by Chirinda five minutes later.
Billy Veremu restored parity in the 20th minute to take his tally to 10 goals this season.
Karengesha restored Ngezi’s lead with a fine strike just after the restart.
Chirinda had the final say in the 73th as he lobbed Martin Mapisa.
