Chronicle Editor
Oscar Rusenga, in TRIANGLE
Triangle 2-0 Hwange
TRIANGLE United Football Club ended their seven-match winless run with an important victory over visiting Hwange in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match played under unusual chilly weather conditions at Gibbo yesterday.
Wilson Mensah and Nobert Zingo scored two important goals which earned the Sugar Sugar Boys maximum points which are very vital in their push for survival.
Despite the win Triangle have still a lot of work to do as they are still languishing in 16th position with 29 points from 27 games and still a point away from safety.
Triangle travel to Bata Stadium to face Sheasham, who are in 14th position. The two teams are separated by a single point following Sheasham’s away loss to Caps United in Harare yesterday.
Triangle started the match on the front foot and scored as early as the eight minute, Zingo with a perfect header that gave Hwange goalkeeper Nedrick Madeya no chance off the post following a good move involving Russel Madamombe, whose defence-splitting pass found Never Rauzhi, who then crossed the ball for Zingo to score the opener.
Hwange pushed for an equaliser and Claivert Tshuma was instrumental in their attack. They scored in the 32nd minute and Mutare-based referee Quedsani Dirwai signalled a goal but the visitors celebrations were cut short when the goal was reversed following consultations with the far side official Kudakwashe Marange who indicated Brian Mlotshwa committed a foul leading to the goal.
Triangle were given a lifeline and made a tactical substitution in the 39th minute as coach Thulani Sibanda reinforced his midfield with the introduction of Enock Karembo for Tinashe Kabanda and that was the game changing moment for the hosts who were struggling to handle Shepherd Gadzikwa and Pritchard Mphelele in the middle of the park.
Hwange almost equalised against run of play when Mphelele pulled a trigger soon after restart but his good effort was equally matched by Talbert Shumba in goals for Triangle.
Triangle felt relieved when club top goal scorer Mensah scored the cushion goal, Triangle’s second of the match and his sixth for the season, on the hour mark.
Madamombe was the provider with a well-placed looping pass which fell perfectly for Mensah and the Ghanaian international made no mistake from close range.
Triangle right back Blessing Kagudu was very good in defence and attack and almost registered his name on the scoresheet from a dead-ball situation but his well-taken freekick from outside the box was saved by Madeya who kept the scoreline respectable with a series of good saves.
Mensah was unfortunate not to score his second of the game as he was denied by the woodwork in referee’s optional time after connecting well with Kagudu’s freeckick moments before the full time whistle.
Triangle assistant coach John Nyikadzino, who has taken over post-match interview duties since joining the Lowveld based side, was happy with the result and is optimistic his side will avoid the dreaded drop after their latest win.
“The guys played very well. I am happy with the result, very happy with the performance and the attitude. If your regular players start scoring it gives you belief that you are on the right track.
“These are very important points, our last game against Dynamos here we collected a point and the three points today will definitely make a difference and it’s a positive for us,” said Nyikadzino.
Hwange gaffer Nation Dube was not a happy man as he questioned a lot of refereeing decisions after his team’s loss.
“It’s very difficult to play more than eleven people at a given time. Some of the decisions against us were questionable and I wasn’t happy and I think it’s killing our football.
“We are playing Herentals midweek, we have to manage our fatigue because the travelling is too much. Some of my players are not even here because of the communication we had received earlier in the week cancelling games this weekend.
“We had released players and when the second communication came we could not get hold of some important players and we had to play today’s match with the available players.”
Teams
Triangle: Talbert Shumba, Blessing Kagudu, Eriya Mafirenyika, Carlos Musimwa, Robert Kwaramba, Tinashe Kabanda (Enock Karembo 39min), Lucky Ndlela, Nobert Zingo (Wayne Makuva 74min), Russel Madamombe, Never Rauzhi (Migos Svinurai 74min)
Hwange: Nedrick Madeya, Kelly Shiyandindi, Lukas Sibanda, Brendon Rendo, Goodwin Goriyati, Solomon Sithole Pritchard Mphelele, Shepherd Gadzikwa, Tendai Muvuti, Brian Mlotshwa, Claivert Tshuma
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