adminSHABANIE Mine continued with their fine run when they edged Harare City in a lively Castle Lager Premier soccer League tie at Maglas yesterday.
In-form striker Nelson Mazivisa scored the goal that made the difference in the 62nd minute to help the asbestos miners ease back into second place on the log standings.
Former Highlanders striker Tarisai Rukanda who kept the Sunshine Boys defender Witness Nyamutsakwa busy all afternoon lobbed the ball onto Mazivisa in the box.
The alert striker who was under guard from Edgar Tapera and Petros Titus had the last touch as he sliced the ball past substitute goalkeeper Maxwell Nyamupangedengu.
Many fans thought it was defender Tapera who had scored an own goal, but Mazivisa had the last touch and even the referee Makonese Masakadza also had Mazivise in his book. Mazivisa has now scored 12 goals from 14 matches. “I scored the goal and I had the last touch when Tarisai (Rukanda) flicked the ball to me,” said the 27-year-old striker.
Mazivisa has been enjoying a new lease of life at the asbestos miners after being off loaded by FC Platinum.
The Warriors trialist forward could have opened the scoresheet in the 24th minute when he was fed in the box by stylish Pervington Zimunya, but he was a shade too slow and allowed the ball to trickle out for a goal kick with goalkeeper Nomore John sprawling on the ground.
Another chance for the Chinda Boys came in the 32nd minute when Smart Muchabayiwa unleashed a thunderbolt from a free-kick outside the centre circle that was blocked by goalkeeper John for a corner.
John, however, injured himself in the process and he was substituted in the 46th minute with Nyamupanedengu coming on at the break.
It was also Harare City’s fifth match in 12 days and their coach Bigboy Mawiwi reckoned that fatigue had contributed to their defeat yesterday.
“We conceded a silly goal as there was confusion between Petros (Titus) and Edgar (Tapera) the referees handled the match very well,” said Mawiwi.
His counterpart Luke “Vahombe” Masomere was pleased with the victory. “My boys are doing their best. I have to fight hard to go on top and I am not worried about how other teams are playing, but I am worried about my team’s performance,” Masomere said.
Online Reporter