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Tobias Mandoreba, Hwange Correspondent
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Simba Bhora . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(1) 1
VISITING Simba Bhora kept up with FC Platinum at the summit of the log standings after punishing bottom-placed Hwange in an explosive Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at the Colliery Stadium yesterday.
The turning point was a mistimed decision by the usually reliable central defender Lukas Sibanda, in the 26th minute, to head the ball back to his goalkeeper and the ball fell to Tymon Machope, who swiftly reacted with an intelligent lob past an exposed Takabva Mawaya. Before the goal, it was the coalminers who had threatened to overrun the visitors with some purposeful attacks which, however, could not produce the much-needed goal for the Rodwell Dhlakama-coached side.
Big striker Pritchard Mpelele fluffed a great opportunity in the 10th minute to put Hwange ahead when he latched on to a clever pass by Shepard Gadzikwa in the Simba Bhora penalty box but blazed his effort way off target.
Simba Bhora’s first chance came after 20 minutes when overlapping defender Blessing Moyo found himself unmarked at the edge of the box but shot straight into the waiting gloves of Mawaya.
Six minutes later Sibanda, who was outstanding in the midweek 1 -0 over Bulawayo Chiefs, cursed his football gods for the blunder that then sealed Hwange’s fate.
Three minutes after half-time, lethal striker Walter Musona uncharacteristically missed a golden opportunity to double Simba Bhora’s lead as he came at the end of a defence-splitting pass from Machope but blazed his shot over the bar from a few metres out with the visitors’ bench already celebrating.
Chipangano then started pinning Simba Bhora in their half with some incessant attacks, especially after the introduction of speed merchant Prosper Mathe and Mufaro Mutena for Mongameli Tshuma and Dominic Chungwa respectively 20 minutes into the last stanza but Simba Bhora defence defended solidly to the end. Tempers then flared towards the end of the contest with Hwange defender Raymond Uchena being shown a red card by Bulawayo referee Thembinkosi Sibanda for what the referee termed violent conduct with seven minutes remaining.
Hwange coach Rodwell Dhlakama said he was disappointed with the loss but lauded his charges for the overall performance.
Online Reporter