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From Ricky Zililo in BULAWAYO
Bulawayo Chiefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0

ZPC Kariba  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(1) 2

TWO goals inside four minutes powered ZPC Kariba to a deserved Castle Lager Premier Soccer League victory over Bulawayo Chiefs at Luveve yesterday.

The electricity men powered into the lead through a 43rd minute Moses Demera header with the striker getting to the end of a perfect Munyaradzi Kunyarimwe cross from the left.

Tawanda Nyamandwe put the game beyond the reach of Chiefs in the 47th minute by punishing the hosts’ sloppy defending.

ZPC Kariba coach Godfrey Tamirepi was happy with the result that saw his team ending the first half of the season on a high.

The victory took ZPC Kariba’s points’ tally to 22 as they remained glued in ninth place while Chiefs dropped from 10th to 12th on the league table with 18 points, just four above the relegation zone.

“I think we controlled the game from the first whistle and came prepared for this game. We knew what we were up against and I’m happy with the points we got. We started the season slowly, losing four games, but we have managed to turn things around. We are still fighting relegation,” said Tamirepi.

The visitors settled quickly and dominated possession from the first whistle.

ZPC Kariba suffocated Chiefs in midfield, denying the hosts room to play their normal passing game. Chiefs hardly strung more than four passes in the first half and only came to the party in the last stages of the game, piling pressure on their opponents, who held onto the lead and almost caught them on counter attacks.

Poor finishing also let Chiefs down, with Lucky Ndlela failing to beat ZPC Kariba goalkeeper Tendai Hove from close range in the 10th minute.

Chiefs’ striker Farau Matare had his 31st minute shot pushed out for a corner.

Chiefs’ goalkeeper Kelvin Nyoni made two brilliant saves in the 71st and 85th minutes to keep the score line respectable.

Nyoni first blocked Talent Chamboko’s shot and went on to deny Nyamandwe a chance to grab a brace.

Chiefs’ coach Garthly Chipuka said: “We were hoping to attack, but we had to make two injury inspired substitutions and that cost us. We tried to overturn the deficit but they held onto their lead.”