BY FORTUNE MBELE
Bulawayo Chiefs… (2) 3
Caps United…………. (1) 3
CAPS United laboured to get a point as they came back from behind thrice to settle for a draw against basement side Bulawayo Chiefs in an exciting Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Luveve Stadium yesterday.
The game had two braces from Chiefs’ Hughe Chikosa and the Green Machine’s John Zhuwawu.
It was coach Darlington Dodo’s third game in charge at CAPS United and yesterday’s result means he has now lost one, won one in addition to yesterday’s draw, which saw his side lose the top spot on the log-table to Chicken Inn, who beat FC Platinum at Mandava Stadium yesterday.
Dodo believes they gave away two points against the league’s basement side ahead of this weekend’s fixtures.
“It was a good game, but I think we gave away two points. The way we defended was so porous. In the first half, we did not do anything that deserved us to win. We were supposed to show more composure in the last 15 minutes of the game and for a team to score three goals, it shows something. We don’t need to concede,” Dodo said.
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Chikosa opened the account for Chiefs eight minutes into the game from the spot after referee Hardley Ndazi adjudged defender Justice Jangano to have handled inside the penalty box.
Joel Ngodzo equalised for CAPS United in the 26th minute with a grounder from just outside the penalty box set up from a free-kick by his skipper Hardlife Zvirekwi.
Eight minutes before the break, stubborn Chiefs were ahead again after Shadreck Nyahwa beat the offside trap from an Arthur Musiyiwa’s through pass before lobbing the ball over an advancing CAPS United goalkeeper Prosper Chigumba.
Zhuwawu then towered above the Chiefs defenders to get to the end of a long searching cross from Zvirekwi to restore parity for the Green Machine once more.
But sloppy defending by CAPS United earned the hosts another goal three minutes later as Chikosa got his second from inside the box to put Chiefs in the lead.
And then Zhuwawu was on target again in the 70th minute from inside the box after being sent through by Newman Sianchali to ensure the Green Machine returned home with at least a point.
Chiefs, who are now on 18 points with a game in hand against Highlanders believe they can still survive the chop from the top league after the top-drawer performance against CAPS United.
“This is a game that we wanted to win. We gave it our best, but mistakes at the back cost us. We did not give Caps United any respect,” said Chiefs coach Thulani Sibanda.
“We might be in that position, but we are not bed-ridden. If we can squeeze two or three wins, we will survive relegation. The way we attacked, we were quicker than them and definitely we could have wrapped it up.”
Teams:
Bulawayo Chiefs: D Bizabani, B Mpofu, S Dube, I Badu (F Astu 81’), M Mkolo, A Musiyiwa, H Chikosa (H Zvakavapano 90+1’), L Ndlela, D Shumbanhete (S Mhlanga 54’), S Nyahwa, F Matare.
CAPS United: P Chigumba, J Jangano, V Musarurwa, M Mwanjale, H Zvirekwi, B Sarupinda (K Nyampfukudza 80’), J Ngodzo, P Bamusi (D Chungwa 89’), C Rupiya (R Chitiyo 80’), J Zhuwawu, N Sianchali.
Castle Lager Premier Soccer League results and fixtures:
Yesterday: Bulawayo Chiefs 3-3 CAPS United, FC Platinum 1-2 Chicken Inn, Dynamos 0-0 TelOne, Ngezi Platinum 2-0 Herentals.
Today: Chapungu v Triangle United (Ascot), Manica Diamonds v Hwange (Vengere), Highlanders v Mushowani Stars (Barbourfields), Black Rhinos v Harare City (Rufaro)
Tomorrow: Yadah v ZPC Kariba (Rufaro).
