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Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
Harare City……………….. (1)2

Chapungu……………………..0

TAURAI Mangwiro stormed off the bench in protest of the referees’ decisions as his side Harare City put on a good fight to gun down high-flying Chapungu in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Rufaro yesterday.

The Sunshine Boys dominated the exciting encounter and were rewarded for their industry with goals from Honey Chimutimunzeve and sensational Zimbabwe Under-23 forward Tino Kadewere either side of the half.

Assistant coach Mkhupali Masuku said the win came as a huge relief and should signal a turning point for the side after they had failed to win in their last three outings.

“We have been playing well but the results were not coming, especially the goals.

“The general performance was excellent but the difference today is that we have taken our chances. That’s all we have been working on during the week.

“Hopefully, it’s going to be a turning point for us. We have to continue from today’s game and going forward hope for better results,” said Masuku.

Despite finishing with 10 men after Arnold Chivheya was sent off for a second bookable offence in the second half, the victory was still sweet to the home side.

Chapungu had come with an impressive record, having gone unbeaten in their last eight games.

Chimutimunzeve opened the scoring when he slid home the first goal from a good cross by Chivheya on the left flank.

Munyaradzi Diro Nyenye could have put himself on the scoresheet when he raced into opposition territory in the 14th minute but his low shot was smothered by the goalkeeper Roy Mazingi.

The goalkeeper was again called into action just before the half time break when he stopped a point blank shot by Kadewere before Crispen Dickson headed wide from a corner kick.

But Kadewere, who had a brilliant game, could not be denied a goal when he won possession in the Chapungu half and chipped the ball over the advancing goalkeeper, 20 minutes into the second half. Chapungu skipper Collen Kwaramba could have reduced the arrears when he took advantage of the confusion after his teammate Tineyi Chitora had gone down just outside the penalty box.

His shot came off the woodwork and Nyenye had to clear the follow-up effort by Allan Tavarwisa from the line in the 84th minute

However, the match was marred by poor match officiating. Referee Pedzisai Chadya made uncharacteristic errors and his cause was not helped by his assistants.

Mangwiro was constantly involved in conversations with the fourth official Josiah Masimira and, as the match was approaching the dying minutes, he decided he could not stand the shame and walked out.

Chapungu coach John Nyikadzino admitted the Sunshine Boys deserved to win yesterday’s match as his side were always second to the ball.

“Definitely Harare City played better than us. The goal that we conceded in the sixth minute was the turning point. That is when everything went wrong. They played well and they deserved to win. We have to go back and start planning for the next game,” said Nyikadzino.

Teams

Harare City: T. Dube, M. Diro Nyenye, A. Chivheya, T. Ndlovu, C.Dickson, T. Samanja, J. Jam, N. Alifandika (F. Zekumbawira, 51st min), M. Vengesai (D. Kutyauripo, 77th min), T. Kadewere, H. Chimutimunzeve (W. Manondo, 87th min)

Chapungu: R. Mazingi, C. Kwaramba, H. Mugoniwa, M. Muchangani, B. Zabula, W. Ngonya (L. Mapuya, 46th min), G. Phiri, L. Makura (P. Marufu, 60th min), T. Chitora, R. Mhlanga (M. Dikinya, 60th min), A. Tavarwisa