Online Reporter
Don Makanyanga
Zimpapers Sports Hub
Scottland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 1
Herentals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
BOTH coach Tonderai Ndiraya and his expensively assembled Scottland outfit were under immense pressure ahead of yesterday’s Castle Lager Premier Soccer League assignment at Rufaro.
This is because their string of draws ahead of the match against Herentals had left questions on whether Scottland were struggling to play to their huge potential.
But at the end of the encounter, Ndiraya was a relieved man as Mabvira Vira stemmed their win-less streak.
The reigning Castle Lager Coach of the Year had watched in frustration as his side were restricted to three consecutive draws prior to yesterday’s game.
In fact, they had only won once in their last five outings.
And when Herentals kept them at bay in the opening half, the script seemed to be continuing.
Tymon Machope, however, struck to end the Herentals resistance early into the second half in a game that was one of two halves.
Scottland struggled to get into their groove in the first half, in which the pressure of expectations seemed to be taking its toll on the team.
Luckily for Ndiraya, Herentals’ forwards lacked the precision that could have seen his side being punished.
When they woke up from their slumber, Scottland did not take long before they found the breakthrough that would also prove the winner.
The pressure they piled from the re-start soon paid off eight minutes into the second stanza.
Star man Khama Billiat delivered the assist, which Machope headed home.
Machope could have doubled the Scottland lead three minutes later, but it took the brilliance of Tinotendaishe Takarinda to deny the former Simba Bhora striker a brace.
Takarinda used his leg to block Machope’s close-range effort.
Scottland skipper and reigning Soccer Star of the Year Walter Musona was also left agonising over a very close chance when his 75th-minute long-range volley crashed against the woodwork on its way out.
Yet it was Herentals who could have surged ahead in the fifth minute.
Their captain, Tinotenda Benza, however, mistimed his kick off a cross from Erick Dombo.
The Students continued to pile pressure in a dominant first half that, however, yielded no goals.
And they were left to rue those chances when Machope punished them on the other end.
Ndiraya acknowledged that the win had brought some relief in his dressing room.
“It was a difficult game if you are to ask me, but I am very happy that we managed to collect maximum points.
“We had gone for three consecutive matches without a win, and to get this win gives us a lot of relief.
“I am not entirely happy with the performance,” said Ndiraya.
Herentals coach Paul Benza felt his charges could have won the match had they been clinical in front of goal.
“We had a good game, and I think we needed to be clinical in front of goal.
“We had our chances, but we failed to convert, and in the end we were punished,” said Benza.
Victory helped Scottland ease into third place and move within three points of leaders MWOS, who were held 1-1 at home by Manica Diamonds in Norton
