Chronicle Editor
Syton Hungundu, Sports Writer
NKULUMANE Police Station proved too strong for inconsistent Bulawayo CID whom they beat 3-2 in a ZRP Bulawayo Inter-station Soccer League encounter played at Crescent grounds last Wednesday.
The detectives are slowly eliminating themselves from the championship matrix as they were far from their best in their loss to Nkulumane.
The detectives conceded as early as the third-minute when Brian Sibanda’s long ball was miscalculated by Wellington Mlambo between the sticks for CID and he scored from just after the centreline.
Misheck Manduna the understudy of dependable Mlambo was thrown into the fray after Mlambo picked an ankle injury and couldn’t continue.
The play could not flow for the home side who seemingly were disorganised and chased shadows all day long as they could not initiate meaningful raids with Lovemore Bika for the visitors thwarting all aerial balls.
The home side drew matters level on the half-hour mark through an Elvis Wilson freekick that Nkulumane goalie went airborne but was helpless to stop it from hitting the nets.
Three minutes after getting the equaliser, CID were chasing again after Fungai Chiwashira had scored a gem of a goal after a defensive error between Bright Rukoni and Babusi Moyo.
The striker stole the ball and made a run into the box before releasing a tremendous shot that hit the inner of the upright before nestling in.
Chigarisano, Forget Chingosho started combining well and making sporadic runs into the hosts box only for Khumbulani Baloyi who worked tirelessly together with Martin Eric Shava to thwart them. The referee could then blow for half-time.
After the resumption, the visiting side continued with their tactical tromendo and were just unlucky not to score half-a-dozen goals. A live and skilful Delight Chingoma was introduced and thus CID started showing intent. The forward dribbled and shrugged off his markers in spectacular fashion, unleashing inviting crosses into the box only for the strikers to miss.
In the 63rd minute, Blessing Chigarisano stepped to take a free-kick just outside the CID box and he beautifully curled it beyond the wall to the far corner prompting Manduna to remain rooted as he failed the goalkeeping basics by standing behind his wall, the goal ignited wild celebrations from the Nkulumane fan base.
Joseph Jaravaza was introduced as Martin Eric Shava was thrust upfront in search of the goals and he finally got it right in the 87th minute as he tapped in from close range.
Nkulumane would then resort to game management until the final 90.
It was really sweet revenge for Nkulumane gaffer Mansogofogo who was mauled six nil in the reverse fixture.
With Entumbane having humiliated Westcomm by six goals to one, it’s becoming a bit hard for the detectives to be one of the horses in the championship race.
Results
Westcomm 1-6 Entumbane, CID 2-3 Nkulumane, Pumula 2-1 Njube, Sauerspark 0-1 Traffic, Donnington 0-2 Tshabalala, PHQ 3-2 Mzilikazi, Cowdray Park 2-0 Khumalo, Byo Central 2-0 Magwegwe
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