HOW MINE (2) 2 CAPS UNITED (0) 1
How Mine put an end to Caps United’s five-match unbeaten run when they put up a classy first-half performance that earned them three points at Luveve Stadium yesterday.
BY FORTUNE MBELE
Two brilliant first-half goals from Charles Sibanda and left-back Qadir Amin were all the gold miners needed to pick up the maximum points.
The Green Machine got a well-deserved face-saver 10 minutes before the final whistle through substitute Abbas Amidu.
How Mine coach Kelvin Kaindu was ecstatic that his boys put a brave fight against the log leaders after rising from a complacency that saw his side lose 0-1 to new boys Mutare City Rovers last weekend.
The gold miners moved a rung up the ladder to position four with 11 points from six matches after playing three wins, two draws and one defeat. “I am happy we put up a fight against the log leaders and today our defence was quite impressive,” said Kaindu.
“It is always difficult to beat a team that is on top of the log. The second half belonged to the opponents but I am happy with the way we defended today and happy that we got the three points.”
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The Green Machine were dislodged from the top spot by Highlanders who crashed Ngezi Platinum 4-1 at Baobab yesterday, but the two sides are at par on 13 points together with FC Platinum, who play their sixth match against Dynamos today at Rufaro Stadium.
Caps United coach Lloyd Chitembwe was not moved by the defeat, saying it should be expected in a game of football and it would be folly for a coach to talk about the championship race at this stage of the competition.
“The season is still in its infancy. We still have 24 games to play and that is a hell of a lot of time. These boys have done a great job for us so far,” Chitembwe said.
“I am personally pretty happy. We expected this; that at some point of the season we would lose a game. There is no team that can dominate for the entire season.”
How Mine’s first goal followed a build-up from the back with central defender Victor Kamhuka sending a long pass to Sibanda on the left, who squared the ball in to Pasca Manhanga who also was not selfish and sent in another beautiful pass to Kudakwashe Musharu.
Musharu then sent in a through pass to Sibanda, lurking from the left and he connected with a shot past Caps United goalkeeper Jorum Muchambo in the 24th minute.
Manhanga was brought down by an ineffective Method Mwanjali inside Caps’ half and from the set-piece Amini’s curler beat Muchambo all systems out in the 32nd minute.
Caps then got their face-saver through Amidu after he was set-up by Hardlife Zvirekwi inside How Mine’s penalty area in the 80th minute.
The visitors’ substitutes Kudzai Nyamupfukudza for Mwanjali and Leonard Tsipa for Phineas Bamusi changed the game for Caps United with impressive Joel Ngodzo sending those crosses from the left in the second half, but they could not get the goals.
Teams: How Mine: M Diya, T Kumbuyani, Q Amini, K Chideu, V Kamhuka, M Sakala, T Ranthokoane (T Banda 51’), P Manhanga, K Musharu (G Nguwodzawo 75’), T Masuku (F Chirinda 61’), C Sibanda
CAPS United: J Muchambo, V Musarurwa (B Amidu 53’), R Pfumbidzai, J Jangano, S Makatuka, M Mwanjali (K Nyamupfukidza 46’), J Ngodzo, H Zvirekwi, P Bamusi (L Tsipa 46’), S Nhivi, D Chungwa
