Online Reporter
Innocent Kurira at Barbourfields Stadium
Bulawayo Chiefs 1-1 TelOne
BULAWAYO Chiefs and TelOne shared the points after playing out an entertaining 1-1 draw in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday.
The game produced plenty of chances, attacking football and moments of excitement, but poor finishing on both sides denied either team a victory they could easily have claimed.
TelOne started the brighter side, controlling possession and building patiently from the back as they searched for an opening. Chiefs, meanwhile, looked dangerous on the counter attack and from set-pieces.
The visitors nearly went ahead early in the match when Marvelous Chigumira sent in a dangerous cross, but Nkosiyabo Masilela arrived just seconds too late to make contact inside the box.
Chiefs responded through Clive Rupiya, who met a Panashe Shoko corner with a header that drifted wide of goal.
TelOne continued to create opportunities and should have taken the lead in the 20th minute, but Tawanda Macheke volleyed wide from a promising position.
The home side then wasted one of the best chances of the first half after Kelly Shiyandindi found Rupiya unmarked inside the penalty area. However, the striker failed to connect properly and his effort went wide.
Chigumira remained lively on the wing and almost created the opener in the 26th minute when his cross picked out Eriya Mafirenyika, whose header narrowly missed the target.
Chelsea Nyakope had another opportunity for TelOne late in the first half, but his effort did little to trouble the Chiefs goalkeeper as the two sides went into the break tied at 0-0.
TelOne finally broke the deadlock eight minutes into the second half through Innocent Muchaneka, who finished off a well-worked move down the right flank. Masilela provided a precise cross and Muchaneka timed his run perfectly before calmly placing the ball beyond the goalkeeper.
The lead, however, lasted only four minutes.
Chiefs drew level after a misunderstanding between goalkeeper Criss Mverechena and defender Eriya Mafirenyika gifted Brian Muza possession close to goal. Muza reacted quickly and calmly slotted the ball home to make it 1-1.
The hosts finished the stronger side and pushed for a winner in the closing stages, but poor finishing continued to let them down.
TelOne will also feel disappointed not to have collected maximum points after creating several good scoring opportunities during the afternoon.
Visiting coach Saul Chaminuka believed his side deserved more from the match.
“When you look the situation you would say we were supposed to collect all three points. I thought we had the better chances. I think this point will take us somewhere as we go forward,” said Chaminuka.
Bulawayo Chiefs coach John Nyikadzino was equally frustrated by his team’s failure to convert chances.
“I am happy with the performance but the result is not pleasing at all. With the number of chances we created we should have won this game. It was frustrating but l am happy the boys are getting into scoring positions,” said Nyikadzino.
