adminRutendo Matongorere scored for the visitors in the seventh minute when she received a good pass from the enterprising Florence Maponga. Playing a neat passing game Mufakose unlocked the Orleans defence and Maponga spotted the unmarked Matongorere who placed the ball beyond the reach of goalkeeper Portia Mukucha.
The match started at a cracking pace with Mufakose dominating the early proceedings and Mukucha was called to action as early as the seventh minute when she had to deal with a ferocious freekick from the boot of gangly Ruvimbo Mutyavaviri. Maria Mbewe who had a good game on the left flank worked her way past a number of New Orleans defenders and was hacked down by Maggie Moyo. The referee awarded a freekick which Mutyavaviri blasted past the wall but Mukucha was equal to the task. Ten minutes later Mutyavaviri came back to haunt Mukucha with another thunderous freekick which she parried for a corner.
Prisca Khumalo came to the rescue of New Orleans in the 25th minute when she blocked a Maponga shot out for a corner. Maponga, Matongorere and Eunice Chibanda combined well exchanging quick passes and Maponga drove her shot towards goal. With Mukucha beaten Khumalo was quick to react and blocked the shot out for a corner.
The teams went to half time evenly balanced but the second half started with Mufakose threatening the home team with their passing game. New Orleans’ back four of Sicelo Dube, Caroline Ndlovu, Khumalo and Moyo had a torrid time trying to contain the visitors’ strikeforce.
New Orleans’ strikeforce had problems dealing with the bigger and taller Mufakose defenders.
Instead of playing the ball on the ground, New Orleans wingers resorted to high crosses which were easily dealt with by the taller Mufakose defenders.
Mufakose’ Matongorere was given too much room to manoeuvre as she was left unattended on many occasions. Mukucha was the busier of the two goalkeepers while her opposite Onai Chingawo was rarely threatened. Chingawo had even the temerity to venture upfront to join the action as she seemed bored by just watching from her goalline.
Mufakose’s Michele Hwambo received the only booking of the match when she got a yellow card for a reckless challenge on Tapfuma Moyo. New Orleans coach Sithethelelwe Sibanda blamed the defeat on lack of fitness after the league’s long break but her counterpart Langton Giwa was happy with the result and praised his charges for putting up a good performance.
“It is sad that we have dropped another set of three points but I think the long break affected my team and that goal scored by Mufakose was from an offside position,” said Sibanda.
Meanwhile Black Rhinos got the better of Inline Academy when they beat them 4-3 in a Marange Resources Women’s Soccer League thriller played at Luveve Stadium on Sunday.
The visitors opened the scoring in the second minute when Rufaro Machingura scored before the home team settled down.
Before the Bulawayo giants realised what was taking place, a long range effort by Rutendo Makore gave the army side a 2-0 lead.
Inline pulled one on 22 minutes when Nyasha Maroti received a cross from the right flank and turned it in. Rudo Neshamba made it 2-2 ten minutes later.
After the break tension filled the stadium as the two teams struggled for supremacy.
Violet Bepete came up in the 59th minute to restore the lead for the visitors before Tariro Makumbe made it 4-2.
Online Reporter