Simba Bhora . . . . . . . 0
GreenFuel . . . . . . . . .0
Defending league champions Simba Bhora missed a chance to open a gap at the top of the log standings after battling to a goalless draw against GreenFuel at Wadzanayi Stadium yesterday.
Both teams finished the game with 10 men after GreenFuel's Emmanuel Chikwende was shown a redcard for a second bookable offense on 67th minute while the home side had Butholezwe Ncube sent off on 84th minute for headbutting an opponent in an off the ball incident.
While the point was enough to move Simba Bhora back to the top of the log standings due to a superior goal difference, they could lose the position today if second placed MWOS FC avoid a defeat against Chicken Inn at Luveve this afternoon.
The champions and Mwos are tied on 19 points, although the former has scored one goal more than the debutants.
Simba Bhora coach Joel Luphahla blamed his team's below par performance yesterday to fatigue.
In the end, he was content with the point.
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"I knew it was going to be hard, taking into consideration the games that we have played," Luphahla said.
"Greenfuel is one team that does not give away losses and if you look at it, they have always played well when they play away from home. So we knew what we were coming up against and I think my boys tried everything that they could. The chances that we had today, we couldn't convert. I think at the end of the day, to get a point, it's fair for both teams because they came here, they played very well and also we didn't create much today to cause them problems. At the end of the day, we'll take the point. It's not always good playing at home and taking a point but we are happy that we did not lose and we did not concede."
He was not happy with the way his players applied themselves when GreenFuel went a man down.
"Maybe the boys could have done better but I felt there was too much anxiety. Where they were supposed to take two touches, they were doing one touch. There were a lot of errors and a lot of turnovers from our own end," he said.
For GreenFuel, the draw stretched their winless run to five straight games.
More worryingly for coach Taurai Mangwiro, his Chisumbanje based team has not scored a single goal during that period, managing four draws and one defeat.
"The most disturbing thing is the far too many draws, especially at home," Mangwiro conceded. "We have a very proud home record, but it's now being littered by the far too many draws.
"Today I thought it was a good shift from the boys. We came here with the desire to get all three points. In terms of application, I thought we were very clear about what we intended to do and that we reduced this team to just a few chances, if any."
Commenting on Chikwende's redcard, Mangwiro said, "We were matching that team, if not outmatching them. Once we had that numerical disadvantage, it was about survival. Towards the end, we got back to even terms. That is why we said, let's have a go at them, because we also fancied our chances."
The game lacked the kind of intensity that is expected at this level, but the home side had some half chances especially towards the end of the match, with Isakar Gurirab wasting the opportunities.
At the other end, Reginald Chinemo's shot was cleared off the line by an alert Webster Tafa.
Teams
Simba Bhora: W Thole, W Tafa, I Mauchi, B Moyo (H Masina, 55'), R Kangadzi, T Mavhunga, B Ncube (redcard, 84'), J Makunike (D Mudadi, 69'), N Tigere (C Makambira, 55'), E Ziocha (T Meke, 69'), I Gurirab.
GreenFuel: A Reyners, R Kwaramba, R Chinemo, C Mujuru, B Chikwenya (D Mutimuzunze, 66'), E Chikwende (redcard, 67'), E Dematsika, M Mushonga, A Sila, P Chikwende (R Chitiyo, 88'), C Dhuwa (S Manyoni, 79')
