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Lloyd Chitembwe

Eddie Chikamhi in NGEZI
Ngezi Platinum Stars . . . . . . . . (0) 1
CAPS United . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 1
CAPS United gave away what could have been a hard-fought win against newboys Ngezi Platinum Stars when they conceded a late equaliser in yesterday’s Castle Lager Premiership soccer match at the new Baobab stadium but assistant coach Mark Mathe was still happy with the point collected on the road. The Harare giants had no-one to blame but themselves after goalkeeper Joram Muchambo made a late howler and then defender Steven Makatuka turned the ball into his own nets from the resultant corner kick with two minutes of regulation time remaining.

Second half substitute Simba Nhivi had given the Green Machine the lead in the 78th minute to atone for the series of missed scoring opportunities by his team in the opening half.

Apparently angered by the way the script turned out towards the end of the match, Makepekepe coach Lloyd Chitembwe could not stand the disappointment as he stormed out of the stadium as soon as the referee Nomore Musundire blew to end the match.

However, his deputy Mathe said Makepekepe were their own worst enemies after missing a glut of chances, especially in the first half when they had a slight upper-hand over the hosts. “It was a game of two halves and I should say we had our chances in the first half but we made poor decisions. We then made some changes in the second half and we got a goal.

“We would have loved to get all three points but it couldn’t be. In modern football if you don’t make use of your chances you get punished. But overall, we are happy with the point gained on the road,” said Mathe.

Makepekepe enjoyed the better of the exchanges in the opening minutes but they could not get it right in the final third. Their opponents had suffered an early set-back when one of their key forwards Innocent Sokosi was taken out injured nine minutes into the game. And just as the hosts were still trying to adjust, Tafadzwa Rusike found space on the left and made a spirited run down the flank but his low cross into the box found no taker.

Joel Ngodzo then shot wide after he had expertly turned at the edge of the box to create an opening after the Ngezi defenders had tracked back in numbers. With all the chances coming their way, CAPS United’s striker Dominic Chungwa could have at least made the difference in the first half but twice he fluffed good opportunities.

In contrast, Ngezi did not get as many chances in the first half but Terrence Dzvukamanja could have done better with his final delivery when he dashed into the box and instead of shooting made the poor decision to square the ball albeit with no blue and white jersey inside the box.

Play continued to swing from one end to the other in the second half and Makatuka made a timely interception to stop former Dynamos winger Tichaona Mabvura’s cross into the box. Ngezi twice came close to scoring but James Nguluve could not connect his shot following an exchange of passes between Washington Pakamisa and Dzvukamanja in the 64th minute.

Dzvukamanja then had his shot cleared from the line by Justice Jangano two minutes later.

Makepekepe managed to hold their nerve and Phineas Bhamusi’s industry on the left flank finally paid off in the 78th minute when he beat his markers and sent a square ball that was directed into the nets by Nhivi, who got in as a second half substitute for Rusike at the restart.

But just as they were still counting their eggs, goalkeeper Muchambo made a mess of what could have been a routine save when he conceded a corner which then resulted in the goal on the 88th minute. Muchambo was beaten by his own defender Makatuka who headed the ball into his own nets in a frantic effort to clear the lines.

Ngezi coach Clifton “Somalia” Kadurira was happy his side managed to avoid defeat in their second game of the Premiership. “It was a good game. We fought hard to recover from that goal. I am happy the boys played according to instructions and they fought as a team,” said Kadurira.

Teams
Ngezi Platinum: B. Mwandimutsira, K. Murera, T. Petros, L. Chakoroma, K. Machona, J. Takunda (E. Katema, 84th minute), J. Marufu, J. Ngulube, T. Dzvukamanja, I. Sokosi (T. Mabvura, 9th minute)

CAPS United: J. Muchambo, H. Zvirekwi, J. Jangano, S. Makatuka, M. Muchenje (Mwanjali, 72nd minute), K. Nyamupfukudza, P. Bhamusi, T. Rusike (S. Nhivi, 46th minute), J. Ngodzo ( A. Gutu, 61st minute), D. Chungwa.