Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo in Norton
MWOS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 2
CAPS United . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(1) 1
Ngoni Stadium is fast becoming a fortress that Castle Lager Premier Soccer League newboys MWOS have built.
And another top-flight giant was left bearing testimony to that.
This was after Innocent Zambezi came back to haunt his former paymasters with a super header that settled this duel and floored CAPS United.
At the close of business on the Match-Day 16 proceedings, MWOS shot back atop the 18-team log standings, where they have been perched for much of the opening half of the season.
The Punters had been dislodged by Simba Bhora after the champions beat Bikita Minerals 1-0 at Wadzanai on Wednesday.
But this come-from-behind win, aided by a CAPS United penalty miss late on, ensured the unbeaten Norton side climbed back to the top with 34 points in 16 games.
The visitors, with their tails up on the back of two successive wins in their previous two games, surged ahead inside 20 minutes with Mabiala Bissila stabbing from close range.
And for once, MWOS’ unbeaten run in the league seemed to be in jeopardy as CAPS United dominated both the ball and territory, thanks to Kundai Benyu and Tanaka Shandirwa’s brilliance in the middle of the park.
But there is something very special about this MWOS side despite the lack of storied figures in their dressing room.
Instead of developing nerves, they never panicked despite trailing but rather grew in patience and tact.
Slowly, they got back into it with a lot of conviction and were never going to spare their guests once CAPS United defence slept on the job, allowing a loose ball to linger in their box.
Arthur Banda rarely scores but is a bundle of energy that always keeps opposition defences in disarray. When presented with an opportunity, Banda pounced on the unattended ball with nine minutes before the break. The game grew in intensity with either side trying to steal the lead before the break refresher, but neither managed to accomplish that assignment. The second half was even more intense with the game at times turning physical with verbal jabs almost always being traded between the two sets of players.
Both sides tried to squeeze and drag themselves to the moment and it arrived nine minutes into the second half for the home side.
Nigel Matinha flighted an in-swinging corner and CAPS United goalkeeper Harmony Nare, standing in for the injured Stephen Kwaku surprisingly failed to cut off the cross to allow Zambezi to squeeze in a header.
That moment of madness for Nare and brilliance for Zambezi, who was discarded by Makepekepe early this year settled the contest.
Although former captain Eric Manokore had the chance to force a share of the spoils, he skied his kick from the penalty spot with eight minutes before the end.
It was such a poor take from the former captain, lacking in the very basic tenets of taking a penalty, leaning backwards and hitting the ball on its base.
MWOS coach Lloyd Mutasa, whose team played a 2-2 draw against Triangle at Gibbo last, as has become tradition attribute their success to God. Mutasa is a deeply religious man.
“Glory be to God. I would like to appreciate his works,’’ Mutasa said.
“It was really a good, good result against a very good side CAPS United and we’re happy coming from behind to crack it.
“The feeling is always great. You know, you have done this before and said it before to these youngsters, we told them that a game of football is not over until it’s over, and more so when we are at our home ground, we need to push it until the death and push it like they did.
“You know when you hit the summit, and then some teams are coming, the teams that are closer to you are winning matches, and you drop points, you always feel the pressure.
“And then when you come home, you need to try as much as possible to maximize because if you cannot have confidence at your home, then when you go away, it would be difficult,” Mutasa said.
CAPS United coach Ian Bakala who saw their mini-resurgence stopped on its tracks lamented the missed chances and the lackadaisical way with which the team conceded the two goals.
“Oh, I think the boys did well, It’s quite unfortunate, I think we lost concentration.
“You know, games like this are very difficult, where these guys are fighting here and there, as we are fighting relegation.
“You look at the way we conceded, it was very avoidable.” Bakala said.
Teams:
MWOS: Martin Mapisa, Tafadzwa Nyabunze, Valentine Katsande, Innocent Zambezi, Mathew Murambiwa Tinotenda Mutyambizi, Tafadzwa George (Jeremiah Makangira 75min), Malvern Mudzuka, Billy Ver-emu, Arthur Banda (Salif Cheya 87min), Nigel Matinha (Clive Kwangwari 87min)
CAPS United: Harmony Nare, Bruce Kangwa, Hastings Chapusha, Wesley Milanzi, Kelvin Mangiza, Eric Manokore, Kundai Benyu (Nyasha Chintuli 51min), Tanaka Shandirwa, Phineas Bamusi (Shawn Mzinde 84min), Junior Bunjira (Tendai Matindife 46min) (Juan Mutudza 71min), Mabiala Bissila
