Andrew
Sports Reporters
IT is still game in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League’s survival series.
This comes as Bulawayo City staged a smash and grab victory over nearest rival ZPC Kariba at Nyamhunga yesterday.
On the same day at the National Sports Stadium, Harare City could not help do themselves a big favour when being restricted 1-1 by relegated WhaWha.
WhaWha’s teenage striker Washington Mapuwa struck a classy goal with a delicate chip over the goalkeeper after three minutes.
That goal was, however, cancelled out by Timothy January via a 51st minute header.
ZPC Kariba goalkeeper Tapiwa Chilenga was the villain after being disposed as he toyed with a back pass from his defender, resulting in a goal from City striker Dalubulhe Dlodlo.
The goal proved the match decider.
Chilenga tried to atone for his mistake, which resulted in the visitor’s goal, when he let loose a thunderbolt from a free-kick just outside the box in the 78th minute.
The effort was parried over the bar.
Going into the match, ZPC were five points above the drop zone and the loss leaves them just two points above that cut-off point and still in danger.
Bulawayo City may have remained in the relegation zone on 33 points, but yesterday’s win left them with a lot of hope that they might pull off a great escape.
Yet a win for ZPC could have sealed their place in the Premiership next season.
Bulawayo City coach Farai Tawachera described the result as a great escape as the vital win throws the relegation battle wide open.
“We knew it was going to be a tough match and our game plan was to contain them in the first half and throw the game at them in the second period,” said Tawachera.
Tawachera still believes that his team will survive relegation.
ZPC coach Darlington Dodo rued the missed chances and the mistake that gifted the visitors a goal.
“We did everything right except score. It’s a setback in our fight to avoid relegation but we remain positive that the team will bounce back and remain in the top-flight,’’ said Dodo.
Bulawayo City’s Bhekimpilo Ncube, who put on a man of the match show, said the hosts made life difficult for the visitors.
“We are happy that we managed to win the match today but it was not easy because of the heat, which made it difficult to play,” said Ncube.
ZPC Kariba have a tough match away against Bulawayo giants Highlanders while Bulawayo City date fellow relegation candidates Harare City in their next assignments.
Only a miracle will now save Harare City from relegation.
The Sunshine Boys sit third from bottom with 29 points and two matches remaining before the curtain comes down on the 2021-2022 season.
Harare City have themselves to blame for failing to take the relegation battle to the wire as they wasted a lot of clear-cut chances in yesterday’s match.
Harare City assistant coach, Herbert Maruwa, who was in charge of yesterday’s match in the absence of head-coach Taurai Mangwiro, who had fallen sick, blamed his charges for failing to utilise their chances.
“We were supposed to win the match.
“We created a lot of chances which we failed to utilise to score. Our chances of surviving relegation are now very slim,” said Maruwa.
Online Reporter