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There were mixed fortunes for Zimbabwean footballers plying their trade in various leagues across the globe. Knox Mutizwa seems to have rediscovered his scoring touch while Admiral Muskwe is still looking for his boots in England.
Find out how some of the country’s football exports fared over the weekend:
MUTIZWA ON TARGET AGAIN
Zimbabwe international striker Knox Mutizwa scored a brace, with his goals coming on either side of the break in Golden Arrows’ 2-1 win over Kaizer Chiefs in the DStv South Africa Premiership on Saturday.
Mutizwa has now scored six goals against Kaizer Chiefs and the win keeps the in-form Abafana Bes’thende four points behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns on the DStv Premiership log table.
Chiefs goalkeeper Brandon Petersen gifted Arrows the opening goal in the 20th minute after he failed to trap a harmless back pass from defender Thatayoane Ditlhokwe on a wet pitch after a drizzle just before the start of the match.
Mutizwa had an easy tap in after Petersen, who has made two similar mistakes this season, had a poor first touch that led to the ball bubbling away from his feet.
Sifiso Hlanti was lucky not to be not judged offside in Chiefs’ equaliser in the 23rd minute.
Mutizwa’s second goal was courtesy of Chiefs’ attacking player Mduduzi Shabalala who needlessly lost possession in the middle of the park, allowing Mutizwa to steal the ball and pass it to Nduduzo Sibiya who crossed it back to him to stab it home in the 54th minute.
NAKAMBA RETURNS TO VILLA PARK, LOSES
Zimbabwe international midfielder Marvellous Nakamba was back at Villa Park but in Luton Town colours and suffered a 1-3 loss to Aston Villa in an English Premiership match yesterday.
Nakamba was taken off in the 76th minute with Luton 0-3 down and was given a rating of five out of 10.
With Bournemouth registering their first win of the season on Saturday to move to six points, Luton are now in the relegation zone with five points from 10 matches.
FIRST SERIE A START, STILL NO WIN FOR ZEMURA
Zimbabwe international defender Jordan Zemura made it to the starting line-up for Udinese for the first time as they forced a 1-1 draw at Monza in the Italian Serie A yesterday.
Zemura lasted 62 minutes and was given a rating of 6.1 out of 10.
The 23-year-old Zemura became the first Zimbabwean to play in the Serie A after joining Udinese from English Premiership side, Bournemouth early this year.
MUNETSI TAKEN OFF, REIMS SNATCH LATE WIN
Zimbabwe international midfielder, Marshall Munetsi was taken off after 66 minutes as Stade de Reims laboured to a 1-0 win over Lorient in a French Ligue 1 match on Saturday.
The 27-year-old Munetsi was given a rating of 6.2 out of 10 for his contribution before being replaced by Amine Salama.
In the first half, Munetsi was involved in a number of attempts at goal by Reims.
He has featured in all the 10 league matches for Reims, scoring two goals and assisting three for a goal involvement of five.
MUSKWE STARTS, EXETER END LOSING RUN
On-loan Zimbabwe international striker, Admiral Muskwe was in the starting line-up again as Exeter City ended a six-match losing run with a 1-1 draw at home to Lincoln in an English League One match on Saturday.
Lincoln led in the 20th minute and Exeter looked set for a seventh straight defeat until an 81st minute equaliser by midfielder Ryan Trevitt.
The 25-year-old Muskwe partnered 23-year-old James Scott upfront and lasted 58 minutes before being taken out for Yanic Wildschut.
Soccerway website gave Muskwe a rating of 2.8 out of 10 for his performance on Saturday. The biggest talking point for Muskwe was a miss in what was to be one of Exeter’s biggest chance of the tight game.
Mitchell slipped Muskwe through to be one-on-one against Lincoln’s Danish goalkeeper, Lukas Jensen.
Muskwe had time and space in front of the Lincoln goal, opening his body up and slipping the ball with his right to Jensen’s left, beating the keeper but skidding just wide of the far-post.
He joined Exeter City on a season-long loan from Premier League newbies Luton Town on deadline day!
MUSHEKWI LATE SUB, ZHEJIANG WIN 6-1
Golden Boot contender Nyasha Mushekwi had to wait for the 73rd minute to take to the field in the Chinese Super League as his side Zhejiang cruised to a 6-1 home win over Cangzhou yesterday.
With one game to go, Zhejiang need a draw to seal a top four finish.
When Mushekwi was introduced, Zhejiang were leading 3-1 and added three more when he was part of the action but he did not find the target.
The 36-year-old for CAPS United and Mamelodi Sundowns hitman remains tied on 17 goals with Brazilian teammate Leonardo with one round of matches remaining.
Shanghai Port’s Wu Lei is a goal behind on 16 while Nemanja Covic of Henan Songshan has 15.
ANOTHER LEAGUE DEFEAT FOR KAITANO TEMBO
Zimbabwean coach Kaitano Tembo was is still looking for a first league win at home in the DStv South African Premiership after his Richards Bay suffered a 1-3 loss to Cape Town City at the King Zwelithini yesterday.
The visitors raced to a 3-0 lead at halftime and Tembo’s side reduced the arrears early in the second half but could not add further goals.
With one win and three draws from 10 matches, Richards Bay are second from bottom.
Online Reporter