CAPS United…(0) 1 How Mine…0. CAPS United recovered from last weekend’s venomous 4-1 sting at the hands of Black Mambas to tame giant killers How Mine in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at the National Sports Stadium yesterday.
BY ALBERT MARUFU
Leonard Fiyado’s 75th minute header off a Gerald Phiri cross made the difference for the “Green Machine”, as they completed a double over How Mine, whom they beat by the identical score line in the first leg.
Aware of How Mine’s giant-slaying antics that have seen them humbling Dynamos and Highlanders twice apiece, CAPS United technical department also responded to last weekend’s loss by starting with a relatively new starting line-up from the team that suffered their heaviest defeat of the season last weekend.
The usual suspects: goalkeeper Tafadzwa Dube, Rahman Kutsanzira, Ronald Pfumbidzayi, Tawanda Munyanduri and Tapiwa Kumbuyani were not even on the bench.
Instead, it was bench warmers goalkeeper Jorum Muchambo, George Magariro, Tino Muswe and Munashe Chimbodza who combined well with Dominic Chungwa, Hardlife Zvirekwi and Gerald Phiri.
The players responded very well and the score line is not a true reflection of how CAPS United played, as they missed a lot of chances with Chungwa being the chief culprit. However, CAPS United remained rooted on position five with 42 points.
The frustration in the How Mine camp was there for all to see as Simba Sithole who had a quiet game and Khumbulani Banda were in a near fist fight after the match, only to be restrained by team-mates.
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A relieved CAPS United assistant coach Saul Chaminuka was happy with the result as the two teams prepare to square off in the semi-finals of the Mbada Diamonds Cup.
“The young boys we fielded today played very well and that gives us a lot of options going into the Mbada Diamonds Cup semifinals against the same opponents,” he said.
How Mine coach Philani Mabhena described the match as a game of two halves in which his side should have won the game in the first half.
“We played very well and lost the match after failing to defend a cross. However, this is not a reflection of how the Mbada Diamonds Cup semifinal will look like because it will be a different game altogether,” he said.
