adminFrom Tobias Mandoreba in Hwange
Hwange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
Triangle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
(Triangle won 4-3 on penalties)
TRIANGLE continued their dominance over Hwange when they went back to the Lowveld celebrating their progress to the last eight of the Chibuku Super Cup after sending the hosts packing via a penalty shoot-out at the Colliery yesterday. The teams had played out a goalless draw in regulation time of this first round tie. But it was the coal miners, who had a good opportunity to wrap up the game during the normal playing time, who learnt the hard way that you need to convert chances that come your way in order to prevail in any football match.
In the shoot-out, the writing was on the wall early as they missed two consecutive penalty kicks which were saved by hero of the day Ronald Mudimu.
The visitors’ goalkeeper dived to his right to save efforts from Farai Vimisai and Tonisani Sibelo to give his side an advantage.
While Hwange were still to recover from the nightmare, goalkeeper Mudimu and Blessing Chimwamuchere slotted in the first two kicks for Triangle.
Alec Marime gave Hwange hope by banging in the third spot kick with veteran goalkeeper Timothy Sibanda saving Tatenda Tsuro’s effort to leave the scores at 2-1.
Both Andrew Tshuma and captain Gerald Ndlovu then slotted the remaining spot kicks for the miners but Tichaona Chipunza and Nelson Merson were also spot on to leave the visitors on cloud nine after the match with a 4-3 victory.
Away from the spot kicks Triangle had better exchanges in the opening stanza while Hwange should have used their second half dominance to drain all the syrup from the sugar cane only to be let down by poor finishing.
Triangle got the first chance at goal in the fourth minute but they watched in disbelief as defender Sibelo ghosted in from nowhere to clear a goal-bound Charles Rukwanhi’s header off the line with Timothy Sibanda badly positioned.
Rukwanhi came back with more venom in the eighth minute when he unleashed a powerful free kick which was pushed out for a corner kick by a stretched Sibanda.
The home side made their intentions known on the quarter hour mark when impressive Talent Chamboko roasted defenders William Mapfumo and Jimmy Dzingai on the edge of the box only for Merson to hook his curling and defence splitting cross to safety before a well-positioned Gilbert Zulu could stab home from close range.
The match then became a balanced affair until the half hour mark when Sibelo latched on to a lovely Vimisai cross before unleashing a dipping volley which flew past the left upright with Mudimu diving in vain.
Hwange took control of the proceedings in the last half but finishing let them down.
In the 65th minute, Triangle technical bench had their hearts in their mouths after a Chinyengetere cross proved to a bag of snakes for the visitors’ defence as Mapfumo miscued his intended clearance which beat his goalkeeper only to bounce off the right upright before being cleared to safety by Dzingai.
The match then livened up with stocky attacking midfielder Lameck Nhamo and substitute Felix Kuswatuka driving the Triangle forays into Hwange’s half while Chamboko, Vimisai and Marime continued to harass the visitors’ defence.
The coalminers’ domination in the last half yielded no fruits as Triangle resorted to frustrating the hosts with some resolute defending as the dreaded spot kicks approached.
By bundling Hwange out of the Chibuku Super Cup, Triangle have continued their dominance over the coalminers who are yet to win a game against the Lowveld outfit.
Hwange goalkeepers’ coach Chenjerayi Dube lamented the chances that went begging especially in the last half.
“We were punished for failing to convert the chances we got. Penalty kicks are a lottery there is nothing you can do about that. We need to soldier on that is football.” he said.
Biggie Zuze was jubilant after the match.
“We came here with a game plan and it worked well and we were aware that if we go the spot kicks we would prevail as we did it in the NetOne Charity shield against Harare City,” said Zuze.
Teams:
HWANGE: T Sibanda; T Sibelo; M Mungadze; G Ndlovu; D Boriwondo; A Tshuma; F Vimisai; T Chamboko; R Chinyengetere (P Mpelele 83th minute); G Zulu( I Masame,76th minute);A Marime
TRIANGLE:
R Mudimu; C Rukwanhi; N Merson; W Mapfumo; J Dzingai; C Ngondonga; T Chipunza; B Maziwisa (W Gondo, 80th minute); L Nhamo; T Chitora (F Kuswatuka, 40th minute)
Online Reporter