malvernmugadzikwa
Tadious Manyepo in MHONDORO-NGEZI
Ngezi Platinum Stars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
Simba Bhora . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 1
NGEZI Platinum Stars missed a huge opportunity to climb back at the top of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League table with a shock defeat at Baobab yesterday.
The Mhondoro side, who had last lost a home match on April 30 last year, could have climbed up the ladder, for at least 24 hours, with a win over the Shamva newboys. They were actually the favourites to grab the three points given their consistency and depth but they let themselves down against a team that posted only their third win in 15 matches yesterday.
Alexander Mandinyenya was the hero of the show with the only goal of the afternoon. Yet the home team, who remained second on the log behind Highlanders, who play Herentals today, dominated in every aspect of play except on the scoresheet.
They hit the frame of the goal thrice and they also had two clear chances, which Simba Bhora goalkeeper Simba Chinani decisively dealt with.
The guests will also feel they deserved more than just one goal given the number of clear chances they also fashioned.
With action swinging from one end to the other in the opening stages of the match, Ngezi Platinum Stars striker Tinotenda Murasiranwa came close to opening the score sheet.
Latching on a cross from Valentine Kadonzvo, Murasiranwa beat Chinani to the ball with his head but the ball cannoned off the crossbar.
He returned again with a powerful shot that was parried back by Chinani.
It was Simba Bhora who, however, broke the ice with Mandinyenya turning in an initial shot from Ronald Chitiyo on 32 minutes.
Chitiyo had benefitted from some clumsy play by Farai Madhanaga, who needlessly gave away possession in his defensive third.
Ngezi tried to come back into the game as they pushed for an equaliser before the break. But the visitors were resilient, with Webster Tafa and Patson Jaure thwarting all the raids. Just like they were doing towards the end of the first stanza, the home side kept piling pressure at the restart but they could not fashion any clear chances. With the match drawing to a close, Marvellous Mukumba hit the crossbar off his left boot with Chinani beaten.
Simba Bhora should have wrapped the win with a two-goal cushion after a swift counter-attack but substitute Albert Manenji ran out of gas, allowing Ngezi goalkeeper Nelson Chadya to launch a counter-raid of their own, which did not yield anything right at the death.
Ngezi coach Takesure Chiragwi said his side were unlucky in a match they outclassed their opponents.
“You can see with the way they (Simba Bhora) are celebrating this win. It is confirmation that they found it very difficult playing against us,” said Chiragwi.
“My boys did very well. I am happy with the performance.
“We lacked concentration at the back resulting in the goal they scored”.
Simba Bhora coach Tonderai Ndiraya, who spent three years at Ngezi from 2016 to 2018 praised his charges.
Ndiraya’s men had last won a match in April before going for nine games without posting any victory.
The win helped them take their points tally to 16 and find a way out of the red zone.
Teams:
Ngezi Platinum Stars: Nelson Chadya, Kudzai Chigwida, Gareh Madhake, Delic Murimba(Malvin Gaki 73min), Marvellous Mukumba (Nisbert Muzenda 81min) Tapiwa Mandinyenya (MacDonald Makuwe 58min), Farai Madhanaga, Leslie Kashitigu, Qadr Amini, (Walter Vuwa 58min) Valentine Kadonzvo (Takunda Benhura 73min)
Simba Bhora: Simba Chinani, Webster Tafa, Patson Jaure, Ronald Kangadzi, Keith Murera (Albert Manenji 52min), Tichaona Chipunza, Vassilli Kawe, Alexander Mandinyenya (Hugh Chikosa 85min), Ronald Chitiyo, Ishmael Nyanhi, Tinashe Balakasi
Online Reporter