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Lengthens ……..............0
Motor Action….........(1) 1
THE unbranded domestic premiership was reduced into a circus after the kick-off was delayed by 20 minutes for the Lengthens and Motor Action match yesterday.
The premiership log leaders arrived at Dzivarasekwa with a kit that had red shorts which were clashing with those of the home side Lengthens. Referee Nomore Musundire had no choice and ordered the Mighty Bulls to put on an alternative strip before kick-off.
In the end amateur side Chillers who ply their trade in the Dzivarasekwa Area Zone came to the rescue. Chillers offered to give Motor Action their yellow shorts and Musundire was satisfied with the arrangement before allowing play to commence.
The comedy ensured later in the match because Chillers only gave Motor Action 10 sets of shorts.
When it was time for substitutions the Motor Action players had to rush back into the changing room to exchange shorts before Musundire could allow them to enter the field. The Mighty Bulls players seemed to be concentrating on how they were looking in their “new” shorts and allowed the Happy People to enjoy the opening proceedings.
The home side was however let down by poor finishing from their strikers Charlton Nyapfuri and Tawanda Muyendi.
The Mighty Bulls then scored the only goal of the match when against the run of play forward Charles Sibanda directed his flashing header beyond the reach of Lengthens goalkeeper Muzondiwa Gonese after 32 minutes.
This was the Mighty Bulls first attempt at goal and all credit should go to midfielder Edward Tembo.
The hard-working Tembo showed some great skill when he turned inside and outside the Happy Peoples’ right back Levison Banda.
After roasting his man Tembo then sent in a pinpoint cross and Sibanda finished off the good work but making sure the ball hit the back of the net.
The home side ended the match with nine men after Josam Matselele and Arnold Chivheya were shown their marching orders by Musundire.
First to go was Matselele who kung-fu-style kicked Motor Action substitute Masimba Mambare in the 71st minute.
The sending-off came at a time when Lengthens were threatening to come back into the game after the introduction of Norest Mkwezaramba and
Misheck Mburayi 10 minutes after halftime.
Chivheya received his second yellow card of the game when he again floored Mambare with a similar high challenge three minutes from full time.
Chivheya had been shown his first yellow card in the first half when he showed his studs going in to challenge Sibanda for the ball after 25 minutes.
Motor Action coach Joey Antipas admitted that his side had came across a difficult opposition, but was glad with the three points.
“It was a typical game and the playing conditions made it difficult for us to play our normal game,” Antipas said.
“At the end of the day the three points are welcome and there is no bad win in football.”
Lengthens coach Jostein Mathuthu blamed the defeat on fatigue after his players’ three matches in the space of seven days.
“This defeat is a question of tired legs playing three games in sevens days is not easy,” Mathuthu said.
“In the first game against CAPS United in the Sup8r Cup we played 120 minutes and we then played another game on Wednesday.
“Today my boys were really exhausted and that was the major problem.”
With the win Motor Action increased their tally on top of the table to 35 points.
BY NIGEL MATONGORERE
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