adminPaul Mundandi in Zvishavane
Shabanie Mine . . . .2) 2
Harare City . . . . . . (0)2
Shabanie Mine denied themselves maximum points when they allowed Harare City a dramatic comeback after they had taken a deserved first half lead in a thriller at Maglas yesterday. Wellington Kamudyariwa’s 28th minute strike and Allen Tavariswa in the 38th minute had put the hosts on course for victory.
But Harare City, now under the guidance of caretaker coach Masimba Dinyero did not drop their heads and replied via Osborne Mukuradare (55th minute) and a late equaliser by Francisco Zvekumbawire in the 85th minute.
Former Hwange and Dynamos striker Zvekumbawire showed that he is lethal in front of goal. With his team trailing Shabanie by a goal, he reacted quickly to place a rebound past a static Shabanie Mine.
A long clearance by goalkeeper Maxwell Nyamupanedengu was directed towards goal by Zvenyika Makonese in a bid to clear and the ball hit the crossbar and bounced back into play.
Zvekumbawire directed the rebound into the nets, past a badly exposed London Zulu with the defence glued to the action as if they were watching a movie with just five minutes to full time.
The visitors had earlier on found the equaliser through the right boot of Osborne Mukuradare.
The Shabanie defence was again to blame for this goal as 10 minutes from the breather, the striker-turned-defender Rodney Mware – inside the box – sent a rising shot that went into the nets and there was nothing Zulu could have done to stop it.
Shabanie had taken the lead through new signing Kamudyariwa.
A cross from the left by Xolani Ncube saw the midfielder connecting a firm header that Nyamupanedengu never saw.
The host then added another goal when Douglas Sibanda exchanged passes with Rowan Nenzou in the 38th minute.
The veteran midfielder who tore Dinyero was a happy with the point and after the match he went straight to praise the travelling Harare City fans who responded with the song “Officer”.
“I am happy to collect a point away and I enjoyed the passing game. I had instructed my boys to go in full force as I felt we could also score two goals just like what Shabanie had done,’ said the coach.
His counterpart was at loss of words.
“Please I am sorry. I am shocked by the result and I do not have anything to say,” said the dejected Phiri .
Teams:
Shabanie Mine: L Zulu,S Muchabayiwa, R Mware, Z Makonese, D Sibanda, W
Kamudyariwa (M Dikinya 46th ),R Nenzou (B Pamhirwa 69th ) G Murwira, X
Ncube, A Tavarwisa (E Tsoro 83rd),H Masumbuko
Harare City: M Nyamupanedengu,T Mamvura,T Chiworeso (C Dickson 46th ),D
Kutyauripo, A Chivheya, R Uchena, J Jam, B Maglasi (W Manondo 46th ),O
Mukuradare, M Vengesayi, F Zvekumbawire
Online Reporter