Tobias Mandoreba Hwange Sports Correspondent
Hwange 0-1 Caps United
HWANGE-born Dominic Chungwa came off the bench to inspire Caps United to a crucial victory as the visitors finally remembered how to win a game in an evenly balanced Castle Lager Premier League encounter at the Colliery Stadium yesterday.
Chungwa came on for defender Valentine Musarurwa in the 57th minute and needed 13 minutes of action to settle matters as he pounced onto a lovely cross from fellow substitute Crispen Machisi that eluded the entire Hwange rearguard to tap home.
The goal sent the vocal Caps United fans into a frenzy and their celebrations after the final whistle told a story of a team starved of success after a seven-match winless streak comprising six draws and one defeat.
Caps United started the match with purpose and had their first shot on target in the ninth minute when the outstanding Hardlife Zvirekwi unleashed a ferocious strike that drew the best out of Hwange goal minder London Zulu.
The coal miners only crawled out of their shell after the quarter-hour mark, stringing some lovely passes and taking the game to their opponents.
They could have drawn level in the 25th minute had left-back Munyaradzi Mungadze’s flashing header not sailed just over the bar after he had out-jumped the visitors’ defence to connect Tafara Chese’s curling corner kick.
Anchorman Collen Muleya followed that up moments later with a scorching effort from the edge of the box which was dealt with by Makepekepe goalie Joram Muchambo.
Caps United could have taken the lead in the 40th minute when Zvirekwi beat Mungadze on the right flank and unleashed a bullet which beat Zulu but not the right upright.
The introduction of Machisi for Phineas Bamusi in the 66th minute added sting into the Caps United attack as the substitutes combined well and it was no surprise when they took the lead in the 70th minute as the Hwange defence finally buckled under incessant pressure from the visitors in the scorching heat.
Hwange charged back after the Caps United goal with substitute Newman Sianchali leading the coal- miners’ quest for an equaliser.
Sianchali fluffed a glorious opportunity to level matters in the 78th minute when he latched onto a sitter by Mucheneka inside the Caps United box only to blaze his shot way over the bar with Muchambo at his mercy.
Hwange stand in coach Mebelo Njekwa lamented lack of cohesion in his midfield for the loss.
“The match was evenly balanced but we could not play our normal game as the midfield did not click, hence there was no supply to the strikers,” said Njekwa.
His opposite number Loyd Chitembwe was elated with the result. “We are very happy with the result. The boys did well to get these precious three points,” he said.
Teams
Hwange: L Zulu, A Chuma, G Ndlovu, D Boriwondo, C Muleya, I Mucheneka, R Chinyengetere, M Mungadze, T Chese( F Vimisai 70th min), A Marime (N Sianchali 59th min), G Zulu
Caps United: J Muchambo, H Zvirekwi, J Jangano (M Mweya 42th min), C Muzambwa, S Makatuka, D Mukandi, M Muchenje, J Ngodzo, V Musarurwa (D Chungwa 57th min), P Bamusi (C Machisi 66th min), L Tsipa