Online Reporter
Langton Nyakwenda, MWOS 2-2 TelOne
MWOS coach Lloyd Mutasa, claimed the two goals his team scored yesterday were foretold in a dream and true to that vision, his side fought back in dramatic fashion to preserve their unbeaten run.
The spirited debutants, known as The Punters, came back from the dead to snatch a 2-2 draw against nine man TelOne at Ngoni Stadium in Norton, maintaining their fairytale start to the 2025 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season.
League top scorer, Washington Navaya, missed a crucial penalty for TelOne late in the second half, while his team finished the match two men down after Allan Chapinduka and Kudakwashe Nyakudanga were sent off for misconduct.
The double dismissal sparked a chaotic 10 minute stoppage as TelOne players and staff vehemently protested the decisions.
“You know what, God speaks to people in different ways,” said a prayerful Mutasa. “Some of our crew had dreams, and in those dreams, two goals were revealed to us. Two goals we scored.”
Mutasa even knelt in prayer as Navaya stepped up to take the missed penalty.
“From the onset, from the build up, it was clear, we believed in ourselves. We said we were not going to lose this match,” added Mutasa.
With eleven games now played, MWOS remain unbeaten and are chasing ZPC Kariba’s 19 game unbeaten debut season record set in 2014.
“Every coach wants to break records. If we can, we will. But we are not under pressure. Our primary target remains survival. Anything else is a bonus,” said Mutasa.
TelOne had looked set to cruise, leading 2-0 by the 48th minute. Eriya Mafirenyika opened the scoring after just 10 minutes, and Milton Chimedza doubled the lead shortly after halftime, his effort going in off the post.
Two minutes later, TelOne were awarded a penalty, but it was wasted by Navaya, much to the frustration of the visitors. The decision itself had been hotly contested by MWOS.
Soon after, the game took a wild turn. Chapinduka and Nyakudanga saw red in quick succession, and MWOS pounced on the numerical advantage.
Innocent Zambezi pulled one back with a well placed header in the 62nd minute, and with just three minutes remaining, Billy Veremu completed the comeback with another headed goal.
However, officiating once again stole the spotlight for the wrong reasons. Despite a lengthy stoppage, referee Trinity Dirwai added only six minutes, then controversially blew the final whistle before those minutes had fully elapsed.
Earlier in the game, TelOne had dominated. Tawanda Macheke forced a fine save from stand in goalkeeper Francis Tizayi, who was deputising for the injured Martin Mapisa. Tizayi then tipped over a thunderous long range strike from Nigel Makumbe, while Macheke also rattled the crossbar in the 16th minute.
MWOS nearly equalised earlier through Tinotenda Mutyambizi, whose audacious bicycle kick was tipped over late in the second half.
It was a pulsating encounter, watched by Warriors head coach Michael Nees.
TelOne coach, Herbert Maruwa kept his post match comments brief, refusing to be drawn into controversy.
“I can’t talk about what I cannot control,” he said. “As for Navaya, mistakes happen in football.”
There was even time for a symbolic substitution, as Panashe Mutasa son of MWOS coach Lloyd came on late for TelOne, though he had little impact.
MWOS now top the table with 23 points, while TelOne move to 17 after this emotionally charged stalemate.
