Rangers hold Hwange

robbed by a late penalty that denied them victory in a Castle Lager league match at Gwanzura yesterday.
The match started 45 minutes late as the referees’ vehicle, reportedly, had a breakdown on their way to the game.
And when the match  finally got underway, referee Ruzive Ruzive irked the hosts when he awarded a penalty to the Hwange in the fourth minute of time added on.
Three minutes had been added but football rules give the referee the option to add more, depending on circumstances, given that the time shown is the least possible number of minutes that can be added.
The Blue Rangers technical team had to be restrained by the police as they charged towards the referee complaining that they had been robbed.
Hwange drew first blood in the eighth minute when captain Rodwell Chinyengetere’s curling shot from the edge of the box beat the Rangers’ goalkeeper.
The hosts leveled terms on the half-hour mark when Tigere Muparaganda tapped home as Hwange defenders battled to clear their lines.
Blue Rangers then surged ahead in the 76th minute when former CAPS United forward, Norest Mkwezvaramba, fired home.
But Hwange had other ideas and broke the hearts of Rangers when the referee adjudged that Chinyengetere was brought down in the box by defender Tawanda Mupungu. Gerald Ndlovu duly converted the spot kick.
“It is so disappointing that in every game we are conceding these late penalties. Three of our matches, we have lost because of bad officiating.
“The team played well coming from behind but we were denied a victory. My players are strong hearted otherwise they could have lost focus with what is happening but they are still fighting.
“We should have won the match well before this injury time incident but it happens in football when you miss chances. At least we got a draw at the end of the day,” said Blue Rangers’ coach Wishes Dzinomwa.
Hwange coach Nation Dube, whose charges will be facing Dynamos on Sunday in the capital, said they were now focusing on that match after they picked a priceless point.
“I am happy that we picked a point but we wanted a win. We missed many chances. And we are now looking forward to the weekend’s game.
“A penalty is a penalty, he was in the box and the defender hacked him from behind.
“And in football there is somebody who keeps time and if you think you are delaying the time it would be at the referees’ discretion,” said Dube.
Teams
Blue Rangers: J. Zvaita, S. Hadebe, C. Dickson, T. Muparaganda(E. Gwiliza 68th minute), B.Bvumbwe, P. Marazanye, E. Kopeni, C. Boroma, N. Mkwezaramba, T. Ushe, T. Mpungu.
Hwange: T. Sibanda, E. Chipeta, D. Boriwondo, R. Chinyengetere, G. Zulu, F. Vimisai(F. Zikumbawire75th minute), W. Mhango, T. Sibelo, T. Mamina, G. Ndlovu, Aaron Katebe.