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From Fairness Moyana in HWANGE
Hwange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 1
Triangle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1) 1
Hwange FC’s efforts of maintaining their winning streak was met with some stiff resistance by visiting Triangle who forced the coalminers to settle for a draw in a fiercely contested Castle Lager Premiership soccer match at the Colliery yesterday.

Triangle striker Tinei Chitora opened the scoring in the 9th minute with a well-executed shot which nestled inside the far post.

But Nation Dube’s boys did not take too long to hit back as in the 11th minute an attempt at goal by  Rodwell Chinyengetere was blocked by the alert defence.

Still seeking an equaliser Chipangano’s Munyaradzi Mungadzi delivered a superb cross that was not utilised as it found no-one to guide it home.

The 33rd minute saw midfielder Charles Rukwanhi receiving a yellow card after tackling Chinyengetere who was heading for Triangle’s territory.

Pressure on Triangle mounted in the dying minutes of the first half as Hwange’s Andrew Chuma dribbled past the Triangle defence only to miss the goal post.

Efforts to rejuvenate Chipangano through a substitution of Chese Talent Chamboko, who was replaced by Tafara in the 43rd minute, did not yield much.

However, seven  minutes into the second half Chinyengetere sent a shot flying into the net after Triangle defender Praise Tonha panicked and lost the ball inside the box.

Triangle then brought in Ronald Maketo for Nhamo Lameck while Hwange settled for Newman Sanchez ahead of Farai Vimisai.

Hwange’s fortunes almost changed for the better when they were awarded a free-kick outside the box following a tackle on Eric Chipeta.

Six minutes of added time proved to be very eventful as the two teams fought to outdo each other and three minutes into this period saw Rukwanhi being controversially sent-off instead of defender Charstern Ngondonga who had protested against a decision made by referee Bekezela Makeka.

This also saw Triangle assistant coach Lovemore Dzoro being ejected from the bench after protesting against Makeka’s decision.

Chipangano head coach, Nation Dube, blamed the draw on his team’s performance which he said was not their best.

“We were not at our best in this match which saw us failing to click in the first half, especially when it came to ball control, resulting in the goal. We just couldn’t hold on to the ball long enough to score and that’s something that almost cost us,” said Dube.

Biggie Zuze, said it was a fairly contested match and we played well because I was worried that my boys would not be physically fit to take on Hwange after the long journey and the team being experienced and all that.

“Otherwise there is need to improve in terms of ball possession which was a challenge for the boys and resulted in the equaliser,” Zuze said.