Chronicle Editor
Tadious Manyepo, Sports Reporter
CAPS United 1-1 Yadah
KHAMA Billiat-less Yadah Stars second-half substitute Ryan Ncube gave them the inspiration they needed to boost their character after stealing a point with a sharp goal in this Castle Lager Premiership draw at Rufaro yesterday.
CAPS United looked well on their way to pocketing the full points as they dominated in all phases of play, especially after taking the lead through William Manondo who got his 12th strike this season two minutes before the break.
But for all their industry, art and tact, the Green Machine failed to get the insurance goal to secure the game. In the end, Yadah decided to risk it and they got rewarded with 23 minutes on the clock when Victoria Falls boy, Ncube shot perfectly when laid back by the impressive Jerry Chipangura.
Makepekepe needed the win to atone for their Chibuku Super Cup exit last week and give themselves a chance to fight for a top-four finish in the league.
And they showed it right from the time referee Mercy Mayimbo blew the first whistle. But it was Yadah, a stocky side missing their main man Khama Billiat through suspension, who instead got clear on goal with just 40 seconds on the clock.
Former Warriors striker Evans Rusike got to the end of a loose ball that withdrew CAPS United goalkeeper Ashley Rayners out of his line but his lob narrowly missed the target.
The miss awakened Makepekepe who relentlessly threw a lot in Yadah’s box with Junior Bunjira, like he always does, the main axis in their advance play.
But, in their pursuit of the opening goal, the Lloyd Chitembwe men were leaving some key pockets unattended at the back and in one of the occasional Yadah forays in the final third, Terrence Maguranyanga ought to have done far much better than lean back and shoot over unmarked in the box.
Soon after that calamitous miss, Manondo was home to plant a header beyond Mathias Kigonya in goals for Yadah and retake control of the golden boot race.
Like what was the case in the first-half, Khama Billiatless Yadah almost scored right from the restart but Chipangura’s shot went over. Billiat missed the match due to suspension.
Teams
CAPS United: Phineas Bamusi, Eric Manokore, Bruce Kangwa, Godknows Murwira, Emmanuel Mbollo, Hastings Chapusha (Innocent Zambezi 58min), Junior Bunjira (Ian Nyoni 46min (Courage Sithole 88min), Kingsley Mureremba, Rodwell Chinyengetere, William Manondo (Lot Chiwunga 73min)
Yadah: Mathias Kigonya, Emmanuel Chitauro, Tafadzwa Rusike (Ariel Makopa 90mins), Blessed Ndereki, Anotidaishe Gwatidzo, Terrence Maguranyanga (Vincent Sango 73min), Marvellous Ferenando, Jerry Chipangura, Clive Mandivei, Evans Rusike (Ryan Ncube 59min), Francis Mustafa (Mandlenkosi Mlilo 52min)
derick.khumalo