Byo City sneak past ZPC Kariba in thriller

Bulawayo City . . . (1) 3 ZPC Kariba . . . . .(0) 2

Bulawayo City eased their relegation worries when they edged visiting ZPC Kariba at Hartsfield Rugby Stadium yesterday.

BY NUNURAI JENA

City goalkeeper Ndodana Sibanda converted a penalty in the 86th minute to seal a dramatic win in a game that saw two other penalties awarded by referee Happy Mabhena.

Ironically, Bulawayo City opened the scoresheet in the dying minutes of the first half when Mkhululi Moyo converted the first penalty of the match after ZPC defender was adjudged to have handled inside the box.

ZPC Kariba equalised in the 46th minute when in-form Francisco Zekumbawire took advantage of a mix-up by City defenders in the box to tap the ball home from close range.

Bulawayo City winger Morris Kadzola restored the lead in the 59th minute when he ghosted from the blind side to slide the ball home.

But ZPC equalised again in the 81st via a penalty scored by Godknows Mangani after a handball in the box.

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Bulawayo City coach Mandla Mpofu was a relieved man after the final whistle.

“The most important thing is that we collected three points. We need to move away from that zone [relegation]. But I’m not happy with the way we conceded the two goals,” he said.

ZPC Kariba coach Sunday Chidzambwa blamed the defeat on his charges’ lack of concentration both in attack and defence.

“We only have ourselves to blame; the missed tackles in the box were unnecessary and we missed many chances in the first half and in the dying minutes of the game,” said Chidzambwa

Teams:

ZPC Kariba: E Nechiturike, B Zuberi, M Kunyarimwe (D Phiri 46’), A Chivheya, T Nyamandwe, S Appiah,T Munyanduri, G Mangani, T Mamvura (L Chikafa 49’), F Zekumbawire, R Manuvire (T Mandizadza 65’).