Monomotapa…(0) 1 Shabanie Mine…(0) 2
Report by Michael Madyira A Nelson Mazivisa brace inspired Shabanie Mine to a heroic comeback as the asbestos miners edged Monomotapa in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Rufaro yesterday.
Ronald Chitiyo thrust the hosts into the lead in the 51st minute as Monomotapa managed to hold on to their lead for the next 30 minutes before Mazivisa levelled matters.
The Chinda Boys hitman then sealed victory for his side three minutes from time to up his tally to 15 goals on top of the goal scoring charts.
The result saw Shabanie ending their goal-barren three-game winless streak and rose one place up the log to fourth spot with 35 points, just behind Monomotapa who are on top of them by a mere point.
Chitiyo’s goal drew wild protests from the visitors’ players as he appeared to have performed a Diego Maradona “Hand of God” by connecting with his hand Obey Mwerahari’s cross from the right side.
In a moment of pure farce, referee Brighton Chimene ruled the goal legitimate while his assistant Tendai Chavhanga called otherwise for a handball.
Shabanie coach Luke Masomere felt justice prevailed as they managed to nullify the Monomotapa “dubious” goal before he announced for the first time that his side was gunning for the championship.
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“Their player scored with his hand and God will never reward you with what does not belong to you. In life if you cheat you will not succeed,” said Masomere.
“We are now going to put a strong challenge for the league title. It is no longer a two-horse race between Highlanders and Dynamos because we are now also in the frame.”
From the opposite bench, Biggie Zuze believed they were their own enemies. “We should have buried the match in the first-half where we missed some good scoring chances. I always tell my players that a game is won after 90 minutes but we somehow failed to preserve our lead.”
Shabanie staged their comeback in the last nine minutes which began when Monomotapa goalkeeper Artwell Mukandi handled a Nelson Melson back pass to earn them an indirect free-kick inside the 18 yard box.
Mazivisa then blasted past a sea of bodies in the box after being set up by substitute Francis Kanda.
The winning goal came when Ray Sibanda sent in a corner-kick for Mazivisa to scramble home a rebound from Mukandi’s initial save.
