adminHARARE’S Sunshine Boys found their winning touch again when they picked maximum points in a Castle Lager Premiership match at Morris Depot yesterday, condemning 10-man Black Mambas to their second straight defeat.
Harare City had gone on a three-match winless run since beating Motor Action last month.
Yesterday they got it right again when striker Martin Vengesayi got the opening goal in the 37th minute, bundling the ball home past Mambas goalkeeper Tonderai Mateyaunga.
Black Mambas got the equaliser in the 72nd minute through forward Nicholas Alifandika who headed home after he was set up by defender Luckson Kaisa.
However, the visitors snatched the winner in the 83rd minute when former Monomotapa striker Osborne Mukuradare lobbed the ball over a Mambas defender to secure a victory for his team.
Black Mambas assistant coach Martin Bonyongwe noted that his team had hit a bad patch despite starting the season on a high note.
“It was a fair perfomance but we lost the match in the first half. Unfortunately two blunders cost us the match as we had appeared to be containing them. This is the second defeat in a row and obviously morale is down and we have to avoid another defeat,” said Bonyongwe.
Harare City coach Bigboy Mawiwi was happy to pick maximum points after a dry spell.
“Black Mambas had a good game but we were in a good position today to play and collect maximum points. The players were able to mark whenever the opposition had possession.
“It is always difficult to play a team with ten players as players tend to relax and take the team for granted and we had to stretch Black Mambas.
“It was crucial to win this match as we haven’’t been winning and it gives the players confidence,” said Mawiwi.
Black Mambas found themselves reduced to 10 men in the 22nd minute when defender Paul Marazanye was given marching orders after he hit Vengesayi in an off the ball incident and referee Luke Kunatsa gave him marching orders.
At the half hour mark, Alifandika found possession but his effort went over and six minutes later it was Harare who were rewarded with an opener. Harare City also had some chances with midfielder Silas Songani’s powerful shot in the eighth minute forcing a fine reflex from former Young Warriors goalkeeper Mateyaunga but City managed to get the winner as the match appeared to be headed for a stalemate.
Teams:
Black Mambas: T. Mateyaunga, B. Nyahunzvi, P. Marazanye, T. Chinungwa, K. Kapikinyu, C. Hungwe, B. Chirimanzi(T. Rantokaone 86th minute), G. Mangani, K. Chimbadzwa, N. Alifandika, L. Chibwiro.
Harare City: N. John, M. Nyenye, R. Maketo, C. Dickson(W. Nyamutsaka 76th minute), Z. Sibanda, J. Jam(R. Uchena 69th minute), S. Songani, N. Ziwini, M. Vengesayi(C. Muvuti 46th minute), O. Mukuradare, P. Bamusi
Online Reporter