adminRicky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
Tsholotsho FC 1-1 Hwange
A never say die attitude from Premiership newboys Tsholotsho FC saw them salvage a point from the jaws of defeat against Hwange at White City Stadium yesterday – getting the equaliser a minute before fulltime.
The Zhwane Boys appeared to be headed for their third consecutive defeat after Hwange — still searching for a first league win — shot into the lead in the 71st minute through a wonder strike from the edge of the box by Evans Rusike.
Rusike was introduced for Young Warriors’ Pritchard Mphelele on the hour mark and hit a blistering shot that hit the upright before rolling into the net to silence a handful Tsholotsho FC fans.
Instead of lying back after conceding, Tsholotsho FC’s players seemed to have been inspired to up their game following that almost energy sapping Rusike goal.
They began asking a wasteful Hwange many questions playing long balls into their opponents’ half and were rewarded in the 89th minute courtesy of super-sub Eriko Phiri’s strike.
Phiri scored with his first touch of the ball after replacing an injured Ocient Ncube in the 88th minute.
The former New West FC forward capitalised on Hwange’s lack of concentration in the box connecting a seemingly harmless pass from Ayanda Ncube.
Hwange coach Nation Dube wasn’t amused that his players conceded late goals in as many weeks.
Last week Hwange surrendered a 3-1 lead against ZPC Kariba with the latter scoring two goals in the last five minutes of their game at the Colliery Stadium.
“I think we’ve to work on our concentration because if you look even at our draw (against ZPC Kariba) it was towards the end of the match that we conceded. Again today we had a lapse in concentration and we paid the price for defending badly. We fight so hard to get goals but at the end of the day we give away soft goals,” Dube said.
Besides defending badly towards the end of the game, Hwange were their worst enemies as they created countless scoring opportunities which they failed to convert.
Hwange winger Farayi Vimisayi sent in a perfect cross in the 22nd minute from the right which the Tsholotsho FC goalkeeper Mariyoni Chang missed but was lucky that there were no coalminers in the box to simply tap the ball home.
Five minutes later Ayanda cleared a Tonisani Sibelo header on the goal line off a Munyaradzi Mungadze delivery from the corner.
A minute before the half-hour mark an unchallenged Mungadze’s headed over the bar a Sibelo cross. The former also hit the side net in the first half.
Hwange returned from the break still fired up and Vimisayi should have punished the home team after stealing the ball from skipper William Stima but the former shot straight at Chang.
Just after the hour mark, Thandolwenkosi Ncube almost put Tsholotsho FC in front but his weak shot was cleared on the goal line by Innocent Mucheneka.
After fluffing numerous chances, Hwange’s pressure finally paid off in the 71st minute when Mucheneka threaded a pass to Rusike who responded with a ferocious drive that beat Chang.
Tsholotsho FC strikers Kudzanai Machazane and Ayanda failed to connect a Gerald Takawira freekick in the 85th minute.
Staring defeat in the face, a marvelous goal from Phiri towards the end of the game saw wild celebrations from the Zhwane Boys.
“As I said last time, the boys are gaining something and improving with every outing. This point gives them hope to work harder at training and it also boosts their confidence ahead of matches to come,” said Tsholotsho FC coach, Lizwe Sweswe.
Teams
Tsholotsho FC: Mariyoni Chang, MacClive Phiri, Thandolwenkosi Ncube, Donald Dzvinyai, Gerald Takawira, Roderick Mufudza (Lynoth Chikuhwa, 35th minute), Ocient Ncube (Eriko Phiri, 89th minute), Simbarashe Gorogodyo (Nixon Gama, 79th minute), Ayanda Ncube, Kudzanai Machazane, Wiliam Stima
Hwange: Takabva Mawaya, Tonisani Sibelo, Munyaradzi Mungadze, Gerald Ndlovu, David Boriwondo, Andrew Chuma, Innocent Mucheneka, Farayi Vimisayi, Pritchard Mphelele (Evans Rusike, 60th minute), Isaac Masame (Aleck Marime, 85th minute), Gilbert Zulu
RESULTS
Caps United 1 (George Nyirenda 57’) Dynamos 1(Qadr Amini Pen 64’), Buffaloes 0 Highlanders 0, Chicken Inn 2 (Edmore Chirambadare x2) Whawha 0
Chapungu-ZPC Kariba match called off due to waterlogging at Ascot Stadium
Tsholotsho 1 (Ericko Phiri 89’) Hwange 1 (Evans Rusike 71’), Dongo Sawmill 0 Triangle 1 (Richard Kawondera 38’), Flame Lilly 1 (Mukudo 44’) How Mine 1 (Kuda Musharu 30’)
Bongani Moyo
Online Reporter