BY FORTUNE MBELE
CHICKEN INN… (2) 2 TRIANGLE… (1) 1
CHICKEN Inn mounted pressure on log-leaders CAPS United as they piled misery on Triangle in a rescheduled Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Luveve Stadium yesterday.
The GameCocks are now back in second spot on the log with 49 points, just two behind the Green Machine after they dismissed a seemingly fatigued Triangle to set up an intriguing title run-in with five games matches remaining.
FC Platinum are also on 49 points, but are third due to an inferior goal difference.
Innocent Mucheneka opened the account 25 minutes into the game after he was sent through by George Majika inside the penalty box.
Four minutes later, defender Xolani Ndlovu fired from outside the box and Triangle goalkeeper Tapiwa Chilenga was beaten by the ball off a deflection to put Chicken Inn two-up.
Triangle got their goal seven minutes before the break from skipper Ralph Kawondera, who came to the end of a Gerald Bero cross from the right with a flashing header, which beat goalkeeper Pride Zendera.
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Chicken Inn coach Joey Antipas feels good to be back in the title race.
“It was a very difficult game. “The main thing was to get over the line, which we did,” Antipas said.
“It was all about grinding results. This result gave us hope and puts us back in the matrix.
“Five games to go now and 15 points to fight for is still a long way.
“We just have to keep working and believing.”
Triangle coach Taurai Mangwiro was livid and without going into detail of incidents that irked him in the match, he went ballistic.
“I don’t know what to say. What I am seeing are matches that are already decided,” he fumed.
“We are here just to fulfill matches and what I saw today is rather disappointing.
“It’s important for football people to evaluate ourselves, myself included.
“Sometimes we don’t give honest opinions and its killing our football.”
Triangle remain on 36 points after the defeat after also losing to Mushowani Stars and Bulawayo Chiefs in their last two games and have an outstanding game against Hwange at home.
Teams Chicken Inn: P Zendera, P Dube, C Ndlovu, M Jackson, G Goddard, T Chipunza, G Majika, J Nyabinde, I Chirinda (N Mutatiwa 46’ (S Ndlovu 90’), I Mucheneka, M Gaki (V Kadonzvo 72’). Triangle: T Chilenga, P Tonha, A Chiveya, D Dzvinyai, K Chigwida, T Mavhunga, R Kawondera, G Bero (C Dhuwa 61’), B Chikwenya, P Manhanga (A Tavarwisa 37’), N Chintuli. Castle Lager Premier Soccer League midweek fixtures Wednesday: Bulawayo Chiefs v Hwange (Luveve); Mushowani Stars v Chicken Inn (Trojan); Harare City v TelOne (Rufaro); Chapungu v Dynamos (Ascot); Manica Diamonds v FC Platinum (Vengere); Triangle Unite v Herentals (Gibbo); Black Rhinos v Yadah (NSS); Highlanders vs Ngezi Platinum (Barbourfields) Thursday: CAPS United vs ZPC Kariba (NSS).
