adminhome defeat in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League championship race in an agonising way.
The fans were warmed up in the 34th minute when the coalminers drew first blood through big striker Franseco Zekumbawire who connected a curling Munyaradzi Mungadze cross with a header which beat goalkeeper Victor Twaliki.
Shabanie did not take long to respond to this set-back as they started pushing Hwange to the ropes and twice they came close to scoring through midfielder Eria Phiri who, however, fluffed the opportunities.
The pressure paid off in the 44th minute when double scorer Nelson Mazivisa grabbed his first goal of the match when be slotted the ball home after rounding off goalkeeper Petros Mhari.
This was after a defensive mix-up by the hosts left him face-to-face with goalminder Petros Mhari, a chance he gratefully utilised.
Hwange could have restored their lead in the 58th minute but dreadlocked midfielder Nkosana Siwela watched in disbelief as his header, off a trademark cross by right back Tonisani Sibelo, grazed some paint off the left upright with the visitors’ goalminder Twaliki wrong-footed. The Hwange rear-guard was again on picnic in the 67th minute as they allowed Shabanie to take the lead after Johanne Chisunga capitalised on a spill by Mhari to hammer the ball home from close-range.
Play had to stopped for five minutes as Mhari had to be attended to after picking up a knee injury during the goalmouth melee before the goal.
He was to replaced in the 86th minute by reserve goalkeeper Tymon Mvula. Mazivisa then doused whatever was remaining from the coal embers with his second goal of the day in the 82nd minute.
Again the hosts’ rear-guard should take the flack for the goal as they were found “missing in action” when Mhari spilled a scorching shot from Tarisai Rukanda to leave Mazivisa with all the time in the world to coolly slot home the rebound.
As Hwange tried hard to reduce the deficit in the eight minutes of added time, it was the visitors who had the last laugh as their substitute Caleb Masocha sealed a forgettable afternoon for Tennant Chilumba and company with a stoppage time goal which again came after substitute goalkeeper Mvula spilled a grounder from Phillip Sithole.
Hwange team manager Tennant Chilumba said, “It was a bad game for us as we missed seven players through injury but we will, however, try to work on our mistakes in the next game,” he said.
Shabanie coach Luke “Vahombe” Masomere was all smiles but was not impressed by his team’s overall display.
“We scored goals, fine, but I am not happy with the overall performance by the boys,” said Masomere.
Teams
Hwange: P. Mhari (T. Mvula 86th minute), M. Mungadze, E. Rusike, T. Sibelo, G. Ndlovu, N. Siwela, W. Mhango, M. Longwe (T. Mamina 80th minute), M. Mpofu, O. Lungu (F. Vimisai 68th minute), F. Zekumbawire.
Shabanie: V. Twaliki, P. Zimunya (C. Masocha 86th minute), P. Sithole, J. Chisunga (G. Mchiwa 80th minute), E. Phiri, T. Rukanda (F. Musalakaza 86th minute), R. Mware, N. Mazivisa, S. Muchabaiwa, W. Ngonya, T. Mombeshora.
Online Reporter