WWS Rangers chalk second victory

Sport
Zimbabwe Soccer,

Ranganai Dzotizei Black Mambas (1)1 Blue Rangers (1)2

Premiership strugglers Blue Rangers breathed life into their bid to fight relegation when they upstaged hosts Black Mambas in an entertaining Castle Lager Premiership match at Morris Depot yesterday. Goals from Scholar Hadebe and substitute Norest Mukwezvaramba cancelled out Frank Banda’s first half strike to propel Rangers to their second victory of the season. Mambas did the early asking with Kasimero Chimbadzwa guilty of missing two clear cut chances in the first 10 minutes. Mambas played some purposeful football, the recipe of their five match unbeaten run and on 28 minutes they struck when Honey Chimutimunzeve’s free kick was blocked by Pedzisai Gumiremhete only for an advancing Banda to stab home from close range to send the home crowd into delirium. With the fans still taking their seats, Rangers responded swiftly two minutes later. Lawrence Mdluli flighted a delightful cross for Hadebe who made Mambas pay for some horrific defending, blasting the ball home past Tonderai Mateyaunga in goals for the visitors. Mukwezvaramba,who came in for Hadebe quickly made his presence felt on 76 minutes when his curling shot was parried away by Mateyaunga for a corner. He was to make the difference three minutes later when he won a penalty after being hacked down by Kumbirai Kapikinyu and calmly sent Mateyaunga the wrong way for the winner. The win increased Rangers’ point tally to nine from 16 games as they remained second from the bottom whilst Mambas remained four places from the basement with 14 points from the same number of games. Michael Madyira reports that Monomotapa came from behind to upstage Motor Action 3-1 and condemn the Mighty Bulls to a six-game winless streak in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Rufaro yesterday. Following Taurai Mangwiro’s sacking by Monomotapa last week, it was a glorious afternoon for interim coach Biggie Zuze who saw his side post their third successive win and move one place up to fifth place with 29 points. The Mighty Bulls remained one spot above the relegation zone. Motor Action drew first blood in the 26th minute when Norman Maroto connected with his head a Blessing Chimwamuchere cross. But Obey Mwerahari levelled for Monoz when he nodded in a Russel Madamombe free kick in the 68th minute after captain Tawanda Nyamandwe had been fouled just outside the 18-yard box. Spurred by their goal, Monomotapa started dominating play resulting in Madamombe doubling the lead in the 82nd minute after firing past Marlon Jani in goals for Motor Action following a nice feed by Ronald Chtiyo. Three minutes from time, Chitiyo completed the comeback by pouncing on a rebound from Mwerahari’s shot which had hit the post. In Bulawayo, Sukoluhle Mtethwa reports that Chicken Inn dismissed Harare City with Tendai Ndoro’s 85th minute solitary strike. The City fathers had hoped for yet another fruitful trip in Bulawayo after they snatched a 1-all draw against Highanders four weeeks ago.