Triangle edge Chicken Inn

Oscar Rusenga in Triangle
Triangle F.C (0)1 – (0) Chicken Inn
HARDLIFE MAVUNDI’s second half strike was enough to send Triangle through to Chibuku Super Cup quarter finals after edging Chicken Inn 1-0 at Gibbo Stadium yesterday.
The game was played under rare chilly weather conditions in the south eastern lowveld but the home side adjusted well and almost took the lead as early as the 12th minute when Mavundi beautifully set up Marvellous Mukumba whose well struck effort went inches over the bar.

Chicken Inn head coach Rahman Gumbo made a first half tactical substitution introducing Nicholas Muchadeyi in place of Physiwell Madhazi in the 33rd minute but, Triangle continued to dominate in the midfield as Mukumba gave veteran Clemence Matawu no chance.

Triangle’s second chance came in the 52nd minute but luck was not on their side as they failed to hit the target with Dzingai Chirambamuriwo’s right footed strike flying inches over Elvis Chipezeze’ goal.

The visitors got the best chance in the came on the hour mark but veteran striker Obadiah Tarumbwa drove his effort wide after a clever square pass from Matawu much to the disappointment of his coach Gumbo.

“How can you dominate the game like this for ninety minutes and fail to win, It’s the same story of being in control of the game and end up losing, we had our senior players but they did not lead by example, how can an experienced player miss chances like that?

“We have another game (league) on Thursday and I think it’s high time we give fresh players a chance to play,” lamented Gumbo.

Triangle scored the only goal of the match in the 74th minute when Mavundi scored from close range after a well-engineered effort by captain Nhamo Lameck who rose from the bench to change the complexion of the game.

Mavundi could have added one more four minutes later but Chipezeze who could easily won the man of the match award despite being on the losing end denied Mavundi from close range after another beautiful set up by Lameck.

Ralph Kawondera, Marlvin Gaki and Lameck could all have been on the score sheet but Chipezeze’s heroic saves kept the visitors in the game in the latter stages but the damage was already done.

Triangle under fire coach David Mandigora was a happy man after winning but would have preferred three points than a place in the quarter finals having lost four games on the trot.

“I am happy for the boys who worked hard for it, it’s also a relief because we lost four games in a row and it’s good for the team. I would have loved the three points but it’s also good to be in the quarter finals and now we must concentrate on our mid-week fixture way to Bulawayo City,” said Mandigora.

Teams.

Triangle: Ronald Mudimu, Ralph Kawondera, Derwin Phiri, Dzingai Chirambamuriwo (Tendai Huwa 89min), Kudzai Chigwida, Guthrie Zhokinyi, Marvellous Mukumba, Tichaona Mapungwana, Marlvin Gaki, Simba Makoni (Nhamo Lameck 68min), Hardlife Mavundi.

Chicken Inn: Elvis Chipezeze, Passmore Bernard, Divine Lunga, George Majika, Obadiah Tarumbwa, Ozias Zibande (Moses Demera 83min), Thabani Goredema, Moses Jackson, Clemence Matawu, Lawrence Mhlanga,