Online Reporter
Oscar Rusenga in Triangle
TRIANGLE coach Luke Masomere was heartbroken as his side squandered a second half lead to lose to a previously winless Bikita Minerals in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Gibbo on Saturday.
Masomere blamed the Triangle goalkeeper Hamilton Makainganwa for the defeat.
Bikita Minerals, who will now also use Gibbo for their home matches, came from behind to win 2-1 and condemn Triangle to their fifth defeat of the season. Triangle took a 51st minute lead through Munashe Bamara but Bikita Minerals equalised in the 77th minute through Innocent Masiwa before Blessing Kagudu secured the comeback win direct from the corner kick.
“I am heartbroken. We had wrapped up the game, our game plan had worked very well but those schoolboy blunders by the goalkeeper cost us a lot. Its really bad, we have been leaking goals as a result of the goalkeeping.
“It’s an area that is of concern right now, we have conceded the most goals in the league at the moment, which is very bad, Its not about the defence but the goalkeeper. If you look at the play, the play was very good.
“Only those blunders by the goalkeeper cost us a lot. I am so hurt…people will obviously blame Masomere but what could I have done when a goalkeeper lets in a corner kick without anyone touching it. Its really pathetic. The performance from the goalkeeper was really pathetic, he isn’t helping the situation, he is worsening it,” said Masomere.
Bikita Minerals coach, Wilson Mutekede was happy with the first win of the season.
“The first three points of the season that are so important. Playing at our new home in Triangle against Triangle … I thought we could have done better, especially the way started. We started slowly and allowed Triangle to take charge of the game in terms of proceedings.
“We managed to go to the break 0-0 but Triangle caught us out of break where we did not track properly and then they scored. We managed to regroup through the changes we made in terms of making sure we were solid in midfield and tracking.
“When we managed to control that that’s when we got the equaliser from a corner kick through the substitute but overall, we missed more chances but there was a marked improvement in terms of defending, which had been our problem area. It was at fault for the defeats we had suffered.
“We are also working on set plays and trying to allocate more time for that at training,” said Mutekede.
This match was significant for both teams, with Triangle looking to move from the bottom of the log while the hosts fought desperately to register their first win at their new base in the lowveld.
Bikita were using Sakubva Stadium as their home ground since their promotion last season, but they have since moved their base to Triangle and the move have given them some hope.
The stakes were high, especially considering Triangle’s recent struggles, having lost four and drawing once in the opening five fixtures of the season.
Meanwhile, Bikita went into the match with a run of three defeats and two draws from their five games.
As the match began, Triangle aimed to assert their dominance early on after a morale boasting draw against Highlanders at the same venue last week. The return of Munashe Bamara who has been on the sidelines after picking an injury in matchday two was welcomed by Triangle fans the deadlocked midfielder produced some flashes of brilliance in a dull first half which produce nil shots on target from both teams.
The second half was better for Triangle, and they struck first. In the 56th minute, Bamara was the quickest to as he found the net with a well-placed shot, putting Triangle ahead against the run of play.
Triangle thought one goal was enough as their goalkeeper Hamilton Makainganwa employed some delaying tactics but soon regretted as Bikita punished him with two quick goals from corner kicks.
Makainganwa first failed to deal with a good corner kick from Blessing Kagudu before substitute Innocent Masiwa equalised for Bikita in the 77th minute. Kagudu went even better with his second kick as he scored a winner direct from corner past hapless Makainganwa to secure the first set of points as they move up the standings with five points from six games.
