MANICA DIAMONDS (0) (0)
HERENTALS (0) (1)
Visiting Herentals Colleges FC bounced back to winning ways yesterday, securing a vital 1-0 victory over Manica Diamonds at Sakubva Stadium. Defender Eric Dombo's second-half header proved to be the decisive moment in a tightly contested match.
The Harare-based side, fresh off a 3-2 loss to log leaders Simba Bhora in Harare last week, came into the game determined to return to winning form.
For Manica Diamonds, their struggles in the league continue to mount after this home defeat.
The match kicked off with Manica Diamonds on the offensive, immediately showcasing their intent to dominate.
In the 11th minute, a promising build-up saw Charles Teguru exchanging passes with Chipo David, who then set up Tshipamba Babadi for a shot.
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However, Herentals defender Joseph Chitavira made a crucial block, denying the early breakthrough.
Throughout the first half, Manica Diamonds maintained pressure, with Teguru's impressive runs down the left wing frequently drawing applause from the home crowd.
Despite their efforts, Herentals' defense remained resolute, effectively thwarting several attempts on goal.
The turning point arrived in the 51st minute. Eric Dombo rose highest to meet a precise cross from Lot Chiwunga on the right flank, expertly heading the ball past Manica Diamonds goalkeeper Tedious Baye to give Herentals the lead.
Despite conceding, Manica Diamonds continued their relentless pursuit of an equaliser in the second half.
However, they found themselves consistently stymied by a solid Herentals backline. Young goalkeeper Tariq Ngwenya, making his debut for Herentals, played a crucial role in preserving the clean sheet, demonstrating impressive composure and skill under pressure.
Herentals endured a challenging match, contending with three serious injuries to key players, yet they bravely held on to their narrow lead, clinching a vital victory away from home.
In a post-match interview, Herentals coach Celestino Benza expressed his satisfaction with the crucial three points.
"I am very happy to have collected maximum points away from home. In the first half, we realised that Manica Diamonds had understood our strategy. In the second half, we made some tactical changes, which led to us scoring and dominating the game," Benza said.
Benza also voiced his concerns regarding the injuries sustained by his players.
"It is worrying that we got those injuries. It’s surprising that they occurred during off-the-ball incidents, but I am glad we managed to win under the circumstances," he added.
Conversely, Manica Diamonds coach Tafadzwa Mashiri was clearly frustrated by the outcome.
"Unfortunately, we lost the game when we wanted to win at all costs. We have ourselves to blame for conceding a silly goal. It was poor defending, and the keeper made an error. That’s football, and we will look to improve in our next game," he lamented.
This hard-fought win puts Herentals in a strong position as they look to build on this momentum in their upcoming fixtures.
