adminVeronica Gwaze in Mhondoro, Ngezi
HERENTALS coach Kumbirai Mutuwekuziva has demanded more from his charges despite picking an away point in a pulsating Castle Lager Premier Soccer League six-goal thriller against Ngezi Platinum Stars at Baobab on Good Friday.
The Students are yet to get their season into second gear after collecting just three points in the opening four outings following a single defeat and three consecutive draws.
In Ngezi, Herentals appeared dead and buried at the end of first half as the hosts took an early 2-0 lead through Tapiwa Mandinyenya and Tinotenda Murasiranwa.
Herentals rallied from behind and eventually took an unlikely lead late on through substitute double scorer Tafadzwa Jim and an own goal by Gareth Madhake. But Marlon Mushonga ensured a share of the spoils with a wonder goal towards the end.
And Mutuwekuziva feels it is not safe for his boys, who seemingly enjoy coming from behind in most of their outings.
“It appears that the boys perform better when they are scored first but I am actually worried and disappointed because this has been happening since the start of the season and we need to work on it,” he said.
With only six minutes on the clock, Mandinyenya received an inch-perfect pass from the impressive Marlon Mushonga at the back post, sold his markers a dummy as if to square the ball but squeezed it home from an acute angle past a lost Prosper Chigumba in goals for the guests. Then Murasiranwa delivered another spectacular, four minutes before the half hour mark, a close range shot to the back of the net to give the home team a two goal lead.
It could have been three for the hosts had Delic Murimba’s effort not crashed against the cross bar towards the breather.
At halftime, Mutuwekuziva shuffled his cards introducing Avi Mataranyika, Jim and the experienced Blessing Majarira to tilt the game in his favour. Inside 52 minutes in-form Prince Chama drove a free kick inside the box for Jim to clinically flick home to half the deficit. Gaining momentum, at 65 minutes Jim planted home again with a firm header off a Chama cross following some good work by Godfrey Mukambi to equalise.
As the “boys in pink” pressed on, Gareth Madhake turned the ball into his own net with 14 minutes to play following a low shot by Jim after Ngezi Platinum’s trusted goal minder Nelson Chadya fumbled a cross by Chama.
However, with just six minutes from full-time, Mushonga curled home to cap the draw.
“It was a difficult game from the onset, Ngezi was strong but we remained strong mentally so at half time we corrected ourselves and changed the game,” said Mutuwekuziva.
Ngezi Platinum Stars gaffer Takesure Chiragwi feels his charges let their guard down, dropping two crucial points.
Getting early goals, he said, was part of his strategy to frustrate the opponents.
“We however, lost concentration along the way and got punished,” he said.
“Picking a point was fine and I am happy that we scored three goals in open play, we had become worried that we often play a good game but fail to convert.
“Now we revert to training and work on our mistakes.”
Online Reporter
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