adminZIMBABWE Saints striker Chipo Tsodzo rose to the occasion for his team, scoring the second goal for Chikwata and creating the other in a Castle Lager Premier League soccer match at White City yesterday.
Tsodzo was instrumental in the 32nd minute goal by Ntokozo Tshuma and was later rewarded for his hard work with a 66th minute goal.
Gunners seemed to dictate the pace of the match in the first half of the game as they had better chances to score.
They fired from all cylinders but failed to hit the target until the 23rd minute when they got the opener from Ishmael Lawe.
The visitors got their first chance as early as the seventh minute through Hardlife Zvirekwi who spent 90 minutes of the match tormenting the Saints defence.
Zvirekwi’s shot from outside the box was well managed by Chikwata goalminder Munyaradzi Diya who dived to push it out for a corner.
After much probing and prodding Gunners got the opening.
Tafadzwa Maingire was anticipating a throw in awarded to his side, Saints as he thought the ball had gone out, but the linesman decided otherwise.
Lawe who had the ball raced towards the goal with Maingire neglecting his defensive duty. A few metres away from the goalmouth Lawe released a shot that beat goalkeeper Diya hands down.
A minute later Diya had to stretch to keep the ball out after a defensive blunder by captain Danisa Phiri.
In the 32nd minute Chikwata leveled the scores through Tshuma. Initially Diya and Peter Muzondo had played around with the ball instead of sending it up front giving away possession to Gunners.
But Saints quickly recovered and Tsodzo’s cross found Tshuma who sent in the shot to level the scores.
Zimbabwe Saints came back fired up probably after a stern talking to by coach Willard “Mashinkila” Khumalo.
Gunners had one of their best chances to go one up in the 51st minute through a Charles Makuruva effort but it passed in front of the goalmouth and Lawe and Ziwini could have kicked themselves for missing the opportunity to score.
Tsodzo fought hard to get the goal for Saints and was rewarded in the 66th minute.
Gunners’ Lawe had an attempt at goal a couple of seconds before sending a blistering shot towards Diya who commanded his post well and punched the ball back into play.
Chikaka picked it up somewhere in the middle of the park and sent a shot that Chigova failed to save. Tsodzo who was lurking in the shadows reacted quickly to take the rebound before the Chogova recovered scoring the second for Saints.
Saints were running riot at that point and substitute Joel Nyama could have sealed the game but his celebrations were cut short when the ball hit the bottom part of the left side post.
Despite Leo Kurauzvione’s quick reaction to the ball he was adjudged to be offside and the goal disallowed.
Gunners coach Darling Dodo said they had handed Saints the win.
“We presented Saints with the goals. We had a lapse of concentration in our defense. We blame ourselves for the loss as we failed to defend,” he said.
Dodo said it was too early for them to start panicking as they still had a long way to go.
Teams
Zimbabwe Saints: M Diya, C Tsodzo, D Phiri, T Maingire, N Tshuma, L Kurauzvione, B Chikaka, G Phiri (J Nyama 69th minute), P Muzondo, A Mbaiwa, M Phakati
Gunners: G Chigova, N Ziwini, A Chaka, C Makuruva (L Masakusa 69th minute), I Lawe, W Kamudyariwa, E Meleka, H Zvirekwi, C Sekete (L Tsipa 69th minute), D Sengu, M Kunyarimwe.
Online Reporter