Online Reporter
Onward Gangata
Kwekwe United 1-2 Simba Bhora
SIMBA BHORA moved to the top of the log standings after a hard-fought victory over Kwekwe United in a highly emotive but entertaining Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Bata Stadium yesterday.
The reigning league champions needed a last-gasp goal from Trevor Mavhunga to secure the win and move to 18 points, tying with MWOS who are in action on Thursday.
It appeared as if the match was heading for a draw in added time when Simba Bhora won a corner. In the resultant goalmouth melee, Mavhunga reacted faster than the Kwekwe United defenders to toe-poke the ball home.
Veteran winger Never Tigere had thrust Simba Bhora into the lead in the first half before substitute Mbongeni Minezhi equalised for The Gold Boys after the break. Simba Bhora have now stretched their unbeaten run to five matches.
The Shamva-based outfit could have wrapped up the match in the first-half had it not been for their ineptness in front of goal that nearly gifted Kwekwe United a point.
“It’s a game we could have easily won in the first-half but we wasted a lot of chances,” Simba Bhora coach Joel Luphahla admitted.
“I suppose it is fatigue creeping in; we have another difficult game coming up at the weekend so it was pressure coming in, but I am glad we managed to win.”
The visitors were the first to get off the blocks with some good interchanges. Kwekwe United goalkeeper, Lenon Gonese, was called to action early on, denying Trevor Mavhunga who had tried from distance. Moments later, the visitors had a penalty appeal turned down by referee Grace Gimo after Isakar Guribab was brought down in the box.
The goal eventually came for Simba Bhora after 26 minutes, with Tigere curling in a beautiful free kick from the edge of the box. The goal seemed to have given the Shamva-based outfit more impetus as they relentlessly peppered their opponents’ goal area.
Kwekwe United had to rely on the heroics of their goalkeeper, Gonese, who kept them in the match. Gonese produced a reflex save to keep out Isheanesu Mauchi’s goal-bound header off a corner before the break. Former Dynamos midfielder, Donald Mudadi, and Guribab both drew fine saves from Gonese.
The reigning league champions kept squandering the numerous chances they created while Gonese was on guard each time they shot on target. By contrast, Kwekwe United struggled to create anything meaningful, with their only shot on target being Masimba Mambare’s free kick that was saved by Simba Bhora goalkeeper, William Thole.
Against the run of play, The Gold Boys levelled matters with a beautiful volley from distance by Minezhi. The goal gave the hosts a spring in their step as they grew in confidence, coming close to taking the lead after 75 minutes, only for Mambare’s dipping shot to be tipped over the bar by an alert Thole.
The last minutes of the match saw Simba Bhora turning on the screw in search of the winner, and they were duly rewarded in added time when Mavhunga netted from close range. It was a goal that pierced the hearts of the Kwekwe United faithful who thought they had bagged a point, and their coach Saul Chaminuka felt the match official had a hand in the final outcome of the match.
“I fail to understand where we are going wrong because certain people have to make decisions on who wins and who doesn’t; it’s not good for football. The match could have ended one-all; with a bit of luck, we could have won. I thought a team that is going to the Champions League should be winning games fairly. I will not hide; I was not happy, but that’s a game of football for you,” said Chaminuka.
TEAMS
Kwekwe United: Lenon Gonese, Nyasha Saungweme, Brian Kativhu, Robert Muchara, Andile Taruvinga, Admire Mutimbabyoka, (M Minezhi 46 min), Denis Dauda, Jealous Masukutwa (T Muzenda 46 min), Allen Gahadzikwa (R Samanyika 64 min) (W Ncube 90 min), Masimba Mambare, Maxwell Murimba
Simba Bhora: William Thole, Webster Tafa, Isheanesu Mautsi, Roland Kangadzi, Trevor Mavhunga, Donald Mudadi (C Mukumbira 66 min), Blessing Moyo (E Ziocha 66 min), Never Tigere, Junior Makunike, Butholezwe Ncube (T Meke 81 mins), Isakar Guribab (M Hwata 54mins)
