Online Reporter
Tadious Manyep
Zimpapers Sports Hub
MWOS……………………. . . . . . . . (0)
Simba Bhora……………….. . . . . . . .0
IT wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t flowing football, but MWOS will not care, they got what they came for, and right now that’s all that matters.
For a team that had started to look flat and short of ideas, this was about sticking in the game long enough to find something, and when the moment came, Marceline Mlilo made sure it counted.
That one goal, tucked away midway through the second half, was enough to drag them over the line against a Simba Bhora side that had more of the ball but no punch where it matters.
The win, their second in a row, pushes the Punters to 12 points after seven games and suddenly that early stutter is beginning to fade.
Lloyd Mutasa will not talk about style here, he will take the result and move.
“Yeah, another tough encounter. Simba Bhora has never been easy against us,” said Mutasa.
“Last year they came here, we lost 1-0 and we really wanted it today (yesterday).
“They had the possession here in the first half, but I think we regrouped and probably got to them in the second.
“And we were lucky to then finally get the goal that made the difference.
“But I want to say glory be to God and I want to dedicate this victory to one of our mates who just came today from Europe.”
The first half belonged more to Simba Bhora, they had the ball, they moved it around, but it kept ending in nothing.
Claude Mapoka had the chances, two good ones, but never looked convincing, and that summed up their afternoon.
MWOS came out different after the break.
Mutasa tweaked things, the energy shifted, and suddenly the hosts started to ask questions
Arthur Banda was the outlet down the left, always willing to run, always looking to take on his man.
On 64 minutes, he beat his marker and sent in a teasing ball across the face of goal, and Mlilo did the rest, a simple touch, but the kind that wins games.
That was it.
Simba Bhora pushed, Mpofu threw numbers forward, chasing something from a game they had controlled without hurting MWOS.
They almost found it late, but it wasn’t to be.
Now it’s back-to-back defeats for the Shamva side, nine points from seven games, and a growing concern in front of goal.
Teams
MWOS:
Tedious Baye, Tafadzwa Nyabunze (Tinotenda Mutyambizi 64min), Brandon Mpofu (Jeremiah Makangira 46min), Valentine Katsande, Aristotle Manyamba, Billy Veremu (Tadiwanashe Murasiranwa 46min), Reginald Chinemo, Clive Kwangwari, Marceline Mlilo, Arthur Banda (Wilson Mensah 69min), Tafadzwa George
Simba Bhora:
William Thole, Webster Tafa, Tichaona Chipunza (Luqman Alfeus 71min), Blessed Ndereki (Never Tigere 71min), Butholezwe Ncube, Nomore Tsabora (Cole Tsamba 78min), Ishmael Nyanhi, Kennedy Eib, Harrison Masina (McCartney Naweseb 46min), Claude Mapoka (Tapiwa Mandinyenya 46min), Damaseb Sergio
