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Sikhumbuzo Moyo in Bulawayo

Tsholotsho . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0

CAPS United. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 1ON-FIRE striker Dominic Chungwa underlined his importance at the CAPS United attack as he once again struck the winner to help his side overcome fighting Tsholotsho in a Castle Lager Premiership tie at Luveve yesterday.

Chungwa has been scoring with vital goals in CAPS United’s championship campaign.

Last Sunday, he grabbed the goal that guaranteed the Green Machine victory over Highlanders in a Battle of The Cities clash at the National Sports Stadium.

Chungwa found the target in the 71st minute yesterday, finishing off a brilliant move started by Joel Ngodzo, who made a dazzling run outside the box and in the process drew the Tsholotsho defenders.

Ngodzo then quickly laid the ball back to Valentine Musarurwa who spotted the overlapping Hardlife Zvirekwi from the blind side.

Zvirekwi sent in a hard and low grounder that Chungwa just pushed into the net.

However, Tsholotsho, whose game plan had worked for them, felt hard done in the 50th minute decision by referee Thomas Masaa to deny them a penalty.

An in swinger came from the right side and in an effort to clear, Denis Dauda handled with his outstretched arm.

Gweru referee Masaa did not blow even when first assistant referee Melody Ncube flagged and continued to wave her flag to draw the attention of the man in the centre.

Ncube then put her flag down just as Masaa was also turning to look at her. The two officials exchanged a thumbs up sign, much to the astonishment of fans.

“It could have been the turning point for us, but referees are human beings too, they make mistakes,” said Tsholotsho assistant coach Xolani Mafikeni after the match.

Tsholotsho could have however, scored from open play had their strikers, particularly Collins Dhuwa, been more composed in front of goal.

In the seventh minute, the wasteful Dhuwa’s tame and ill-advised shot from outside the box rolled weakly at CAPS United goalkeeper Edmore Sibanda.

Two minutes later, Makepekepe almost opened the scoring after left-winger Valentine Bamusi dispatched a speculative and dipping shot that almost embarrassed Chang Mariyoni in goals for Tsholotsho.

The visitors continued to exert pressure on the home side’s defence with their best chance coming in the 14th minute.

Zvirekwi, who was playing on the right of defence, but used more often in attacking, released a long calculated pass to the on-rushing Phineas Bamusi on the left side.

Bamusi charged forward, delivered a low cross that a cluster of Tsholotsho defenders and CAPS United forwards took turns to miss.

The ball fell to an unmarked Moses Muchenje, whose grounder was cleared for a corner.

In the 23rd minute, Dhuwa was again presented with another chance to put Tsholotsho ahead, but his shot from inside the box gave Sibanda no problems following a move orchestrated by outstanding Tsholotsho debutant Zimiseleni Moyo.

Four minutes before the breather, Moyo was again involved in another Tsholotsho attack that was again fluffed. The championship winning left footer with Zanaco of Zambia was at it again a minute before half-time when his industry saw a through ball being laid to Blessing Sibanda, who beat his marker for pace and placed the ball through the legs of goalkeeper Edmore Sibanda and rolled goal wards.

Blessing somehow slowed down, probably thinking the ball was going straight in, but it changed direction and went out for a goal kick.

The second half was a rather dull affair except in the last 15 minutes when CAPS United threw everything they had and it was from one of these raids that they grabbed the goal.

“We told our guys to take the initiative in the second half as it was clear that Tsholotsho had a game plan, which worked for them in the second half. We badly needed this result and I am glad we got it,” said CAPS United coach Lloyd Chitembwe.

Crucially for CAPS United, the result takes them to within two points of leaders FC Platinum who have 37 points and this comes ahead of the top-of-the-table clash between the two sides at the weekend.

The platinum miners were held by Hwange in their match yesterday.