Online Reporter
Alberto Chamwadoro, [email protected]
TELONE are through to the main draw of the Chibuku Super Cup after beating Triangle FC 5-3 on penalties at Mandava Stadium yesterday.
The two teams had played 0-0 in regulation time.
The Wi-Fi Boys will now meet the defending champions, Dynamos, in the first round.
It was all nerves, tension, and two red cards in a cagey Chibuku Super Cup clash as Telone FC came out triumphant via the dreaded penalty shootout. The Wi-Fi Boys got their goals through Jerry Chipangura, Johannes Mambwe, Nqobizita Masuku, Blessing Matebeck and Innocent Mucheneka, while Enoch Karembo, Aaron Dzangai, and Steven Zhogi scored for Triangle FC.
TelOne captain Frank Makarati was given his marching orders after receiving a second yellow card in the 78th minute. Two minutes later, Kelvin Mangiza was not to be outdone as he was also sent for an early shower after picking up two yellow cards for Triangle FC.
Both teams created what could be described as half-chances. However, in the 44th minute, TelOne FC had the best chance of the game after a shot by Mucheneka was cleared off the line by Malvin Mkolo, with the Triangle goalkeeper David Bizabani well beaten.
With no goals scored in regulation time, the match went to a penalty shootout.
TelOne were first to take the kicks. Jerry Chipangura sent Bizabani the wrong way.
Enoch Karembo’s composed finish into the bottom corner left the Wi-Fi Boys’ goalkeeper Leonard Gonese with no chance.
With power and precision, Johannes Mambwe scored for TelOne. Triangle’s Aaron Dzingai responded well for the Sugar Sugar Boys, finding the target.
Masuku registered his name on the scoresheet from the spot for TelOne FC, and Zhogi was not to be outdone as he levelled for Triangle.
Matebeck, who had missed a chance in open play, finally got it right with a confident strike.
Tito Chintuli stepped up with Triangle needing to score. He went for power, but his effort crashed off the crossbar.
The big moment was left to Mucheneka, and he made no mistake from the spot to propel his team to the next round, where they will meet DeMbare.
The under-pressure TelOne FC coach Saul Chaminuka was naturally happy with the result.
“I think being a cup game, we played well. What is important is to score more than the opponent, and I think we did just that today, and we are through to the first round proper,” said Saul Chaminuka.
“I think this was our target, and we have achieved it. Yes, we looked scratchy in the opening minutes of the game, but as time went on, we got into it. We were playing and asking questions. We took our shots at goal, and that’s what you need in a cup game. You need to go and try to score goals. Unfortunately, we failed to score in regulation time.”
However, the Triangle FC assistant coach Tonderayi Marume was disappointed with the result.
“It was not very difficult for us because, if you look at the game, in my opinion, I think we dominated for the whole 90 minutes. We also had clear chances to finish off the game. We could have scored one or two goals,” said Marume.
“Games are won by scoring goals. We put ourselves in a very difficult position by going to penalty shootouts, and a penalty shootout is like a lottery. You can either win or have one moment and then you lose it. But I think we tried our best. The biggest challenge is that we failed to convert the numerous chances that came our way.”
