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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
How Mine 0-2 Triangle PRESSURE continued to pile on How Mine as they have gone for seven consecutive matches without registering a victory.
The miners last tasted victory on Week 11 when they beat Buffaloes 2-1 in Mutare, getting their goals from Benjamin Marere and Edmore “Digo” Muzanenhamo followed by a goalless draw at home against FC Platinum, then a four-match losing streak to Triangle (away), Highlanders and back-to-back defeats to Black Rhinos.
Last weekend they played a goalless draw with Highlanders.
Yesterday’s result was Triangle United’s first away win of the season.
Triangle United shot into the lead just before the quarter-hour mark through the boot of Hillary Bakacheza who beat Ephraim Mazarura at the near post after getting to the end of a Hardlife Mavundi’s long pass from the left wing.
Praise Tonha scored a beauty from a freekick that left Mazarura rooted to the ground four minutes into the second half. That goal took off the sting from How Mine who were hoping to bounce back.
How Mine’s game plan to attack with four players Caleb Masocha, Kuda Musharu, Timothy January and Emmanuel Mandiranga backfired as Triangle won all second balls.
Mandiranga and January were not tracking back into midfield, leaving Gilbert Banda who was being used as an anchorman and Muzanenhamo overwhelmed by the visitors who had five midfielders. Triangle United were using the quintet of Charles Makoto, Mavundi, Brian Juwayeyi, Cabby Kamhapa and Bakacheza in midfield. “I am happy because this is our first away win of the season and hopefully it’s the beginning of better things to come because we have been working hard to find a winning solution away from home.
We will try to maintain the same winning spirit.
“Our game plan worked very well. When we came here we planned to use one striker, stretch them by using wing play where we had quick guys and their pace worked very well.
“We wanted to score first and when we found the back of the net our opponents were frustrated,” said Biggy Zuze, Triangle United’s coach.
In his post-match comment, How Mine’s coach Philani “Beefy” Ncube conceded feeling theheat and called for his players to improve sooner than later.
“The empire is crumbling. As much as we wanted to win, our body language told a different story. I think the guys were really drained from the Highlanders game but the problem is that of late we have been failing to score and we need to break this duck sooner than later. As for pressure, it keeps mounting and worse we have lost.
“Triangle played as if they were the home team and I think we gifted them those goals because the first one was a half chance and the second came from a freekick. We gave them those goals because the chances they created they failed to score. Going forward we just need to pick ourselves up and get geared for the FC Platinum game,” said Ncube.
He heaped praises on Donovan Bernard who replaced an injured Mazarura in the 58th minute and made a number of saves that ensured a respectable scoreline.
Teams
How Mine: Ephraim Mazarura (Donovan Bernard, 58th minute), Brighton Dube, James Chitereki, Nyasha Mukumbi, George Magariro, Gilbert Banda, Edmore Muzanenhamo, Timothy January, Emmanuel Mandiranga (Thembani Masuku, 51st minute), Kuda Musharu (Louis Matawu, 51st minute), Caleb Masocha
Triangle United: Ronald Mudimu, Praise Tonha, Blessing Chimwamuchere, William Mapfumo, Jimmy Tigere, Cabby Kamhapa, Charles Makoto, Hardlife Mavundi, Brian Juwayeyi (Lameck Nhamo, 73rd minute), Hillary Bakacheza (Tinei Chitora, 68th minute), Richard Kawondera (Felix Kuswatuka, 46th minute)
Premier Soccer League results
Yesterday: Dynamos 1-1 Chicken Inn, Chapungu 2-1 Buffaloes, Bantu Rovers 1-1 FC Platinum, How Mine 0-2 Triangle United, Chiredzi 1-1 ZPC Kariba, Shabanie Mine 2-2 Harare City, Black Rhinos 1-0 Highlanders
derick.khumalo