Online Reporter
By Onward Gangata
TelOne……..(2)4
Triangle……(1)
TELONE ran riot, hitting visiting Triangle for four as they collected their first full set of points in the Castle Lager Premiership race at Ascot Stadium yesterday.
Nicknamed the WiFi Boys, the Midlands outfit was very active on the market, buying close to a dozen players to bolster their 2025 campaign.
It was good to return home and win following their 2-1 away loss to Herentals in Harare last week.
Pacy Tawanda Macheke was the first to open the goals floodgates scoring in the 12th minute with midfielder, Bruno Mtigo adding the second within the first-half.
There were two other strikes by second-half introductions, Washington Navaya and Blessing Sahondo. Triangle got their consolation in the first half through Menford Mudzimu.
While the performance may not have been the best, TelOne coach, Hebert Maruwa was pleased with the result.
“It was a good game for the boys but it is still work in progress and am still trying to get the combinations right. I’m happy that the goals came and it’s a good response after the defeat to Herentals last week,” he said.
Triangle coach, Luke Masomere was disappointed by the result but believes it’s too early to press the panic button.
“It’s disappointment on my part as a coach, how we planned this game is not how we played it,” Masomere said.
“The season is still young, we had chances ourselves, like the penalty, if we had converted, we could have had a different result but we can’t moan about that, we have to regroup and make sure we get maximum points in the next match.”
The WiFi Boys took the early initiative, taking the lead after 12 minutes through Macheke. The former Dynamos striker needed a soft cushion off a Leeroy Murape cross to put the ball past Triangle United goalkeeper, Hamilton Makainganwa.
Triangle did not roll over and began to grow into the game after conceding, midfielder Praise Machengete almost levelled for the Sugar Boys with a stinging shot that struck the cross bar.
However, Menford Mudzimu restored parity for the visitors beating TelOne goalkeeper, Criss Mverechena, on the near post with a header off a Thabani Kamusoko cross.
Mtigo thrust the Wifi Boys into the lead two minutes two before the break when he reacted quickly to tap the ball home after a rebound.
In the second-half, TelOne came back the better of the two sides, creating numerous goal scoring chances but were let down by their poor finishing.
Triangle were given a lifeline in the 65th minute when they were awarded a penalty after Mudzimu was fouled inside the box.
The striker, however, failed to utilise the penalty, blazing his effort over bar.
They were made to pay 11 minutes later when Navaya got to the end of a Blessing Sahondo cross with an easy finish at the far post.
TelOne were awarded a penalty of their own in added time after a foul in the box. Sahondo took the responsibility, but his initial effort was saved by Makainganwa.
However, he made amends tapping home the rebound to seal the victory for the Gweru-based outfit.
Meanwhile at Mandava Stadium in Zvishavane, FC Platinum beat Manica Diamonds 1-0.
Vincent Nyangulu struck in the final minutes of the game for the platinum miners to secure maximum points.
This was FC Platinum’s season opener at Mandava Stadium and they were keen to start on a winning note at home, especially after losing to Manica Diamonds both home and away in the previous campaign.
Despite being tested early in the match, FC Platinum stood firm, with their defence, led by Mbongeni Ndlovu, Nickson Nyasulu and Bothwell Nzori, showing resilience throughout.
