by Milton Mashasha.
Howmine ………………(2) 0
Caps United……………(0) 1
Harare, Zimbabwe. (News of The South)- great performance by Howmine FC in the first half handed over Caps United the “Green machine” their first defeat of the season in a match played at Luveve stadium yesterday afternoon.Two superb goals in the first stanza by Charles Sibanda and Quadr Amini respectively gave the platinum miners a 2-0 advantage before the breather.
It was Caps United who nearly scored the first goal as early as the 10th minute when Phineas Bhamusi sent a cross from the left side,the inviting cross alluded the Howmine defenders but both the Caps strikers Simba Nhivi and Dominic Chungwa missed too just in the face of the goal.In 12th minute,it was Pasca Manhanga who nearly punished Caps United for their poor marking just near the penalty arch, a professional tackle by Method Mwanjali from behind saved the Green machine and the intended shot from Pasca was deflected by Mwànjali for a corner.In the 14th minute Manhanga missed from close range skying his effort over the bar.It was Manhanga again in the 15 th minute when his low shot missed the goal by few inches with Caps goalie Joram Muchambo sprawling on the ground.
It was very difficult for the Caps United players to contain the marauding Howmine players especially in the midfield where Pasca was running rings creating most of the scoring chances for him and for his colleagues.The pint sized midfielder was difficult to handle causing all sorts of problems to the Caps players with his defence splitting passes.The defensive linkman for Howmine Mukundika Sakhala the Zambian player did a splendid job thwarting all raids by Caps United.The gangly holding midfielder was playing just in front of the Howmine back four that comprised of Tapiwa Khumbuyani,Victor Kamhuka,Kudzanai Chideu and Quadr Amini with Thembeni Masuku playing the central midfield position role.Diya was protected and he was hardly tested or troubled by Caps forwards.
Howmime FC were regularly using the left side wing when ever attacking where Charles Sibanda was operating from.It was the weakness of Caps United right back Valentine Musarurwa who was always leaving Charles Sibanda unattended,most of the passes were always directed to him because Musarurwa was playing too deep nearer to the centre backs Steven Makatuka and Justice Jangano compacting the central defence hence Sibanda was left unmarked.Caps United had pushed their dependable right back Hard life Zvirekwi to the right attacking link.
The diminutive midfieder Pasca Manhanga initiated the move in the first goal of the match.He laid the ball to Kudakwashe Mushàru who then spotted the unmarked alert Charles Sibanda.The former Motor Action,FC Platinum,Highlanders FC player sent a volley with his right foot to beat Joram Muchambo in goals for Caps United in the 25th minute to make it 1-0.Howmine FC reduced the highly assembled side with enough quality players to just a mere side in the 32rd when they scored their second goal.Pasca Manhanga was fouled just about 30 metres from Caps goal area.The former FC Platinum and Dynamos player Quadr Amini took the responsibility for the set piece.He sent a scorcher that left Joràm Muchambo clinging on thin air after the ball nestled into the nets to make it 2-0 in the first half.The match went to a breather in a 2-0 scoreline in favour of Howmine.
In the resumption of the second half Lloyd Chitembwe made a double substitution bringing in the the ageless Leonard Tsipa for the seemingly tired Method Mwanjali who lacked pace to match the speedy Howmine players.Also Kudzai Nyamupfukudza càme in for ineffective Phineas Bhamusi.The Green machine came into the second half a better side firing from all cylinders. Howmine held on with their defence resolute,the towering big defender Victor Kàmhuka who has done well so far for Howmine seems to be the pillar of defence in the heart of the “Chikurupati” back line along side the evergreen skipper Tapiwa Khumbuyani.
Tapiwà Khumbuyani was shown a needless yellow card in the 49th minute for time wasting by the referee of the day Thabani Bhamala.In 50th minute Thembani Masuku was fouled just outside Caps penalty box but Tapiwa wasted the free kick. Kaindu then introduced the former Chicken inn winger Toto Banda for the injured Thembani Masuku.On the other side Lloyd Chitembwe pulled out Valentine Musarurwa for Brian Abbasi Amidu.Simba Nhivi nearly pulled one back in 59th minute when he ghosted from the blind side only to miss from close.In the 63rd minute Tsipa missed the target with a header after a clever chip pass from Joel Ngodzo.
Indeed Caps United came out guns blazing and was a better side in the second half.Kelvin Kaindu then introduced a defence minded player Fungai Chirinda for Tsepo Rathlokwane.Caps United came close in the 65th minute but Diya saved Amidu’s shot from close range.Kaindu made his final substitution bringing in Godfrey for Kuda Musharu.Munyaràdzi Diya made another save again when he stopped a shot from Leonard Tsipa from close range.
Caps United got their consolation in the 80th minute when the Howmine FC defenders were caught flat footed in sixes and sevens when Dominic Chungwa headed the ball into the box and Amidu made no mistake to beat Diya from close range to reduce the arrears to 2-1 in favour of Howmine.Four minutes later the substitute Toto Banda missed from close range after set up by Sibanda.
Justice Jangano was shown a yellow card for fouling Tapiwa in added time.In the dying minutes of added time Toto Banda nearly put his name in the score sheet but his shot was saved by Joram Muchambo from Charles Sibanda’s cross.
The match ended in a 2-1 scoreline in favour of Howmine.kelvin Kaindu was a happy man who said,”otherwise i m happy with the 3 points we got after suffering the first defeat of the season in the previous match against Mutate City”whereas his counterpart Lloyd Chitembwe was diplomatic after the defeat saying,”we expected this, that at some point of the season we would lose a game there is no team that can dominate for the entire season,we can’t wait to train on Tuesday and focus on the important games that are coming up.”
Teams:
Howmime FC.
M.Diya,V.Kamhuka,K.Chideu,T.Khumbuyani,Q.Àmini,M.Sakhala,T.Masuku(T.Banda),C.Sibanda,P.Manhanga,T.Rathlokwane(F.Chirinda),K.Musharu(G.Nguvodzavo)
Caps Unite FC.
J.Muchambo,J.Jangano,S.Makatuka,V.Musarurwa(A.Amidu),R.Pfumbidzai,M.Mwanjali(LTsipa),J.Ngodzo,P.Bhamusi(K.Nyamupfukudza),S.Nhivi,D.Chungwa,H.Zvirekwi.
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