Simba Bhora . . . . . . . . (1) 3
Kwekwe United . . . . . . (1) 1
The final whistle yesterday at Wadzanayi Stadium did not just signal a victory for Simba Bhora.
It marked a high-stakes, breathless chapter in a title race that is proving to be anything but a simple coronation.
Against a determined Kwekwe United, a team rooted to the bottom of the table, the defending champions were pushed to their absolute limit, needing two late, dramatic goals to secure a victory and keep their one point lead over title rivals Scottland who beat Herentals at Rufaro Stadium.
This was not the kind of dominant performance one expects from champions against the relegation strugglers.
Instead, it was a testament to grit, resilience, and a touch of late game magic, or as Kwekwe United coach Masimba Dinyero might have put it in his post-match analysis, handed to them by the match officials.
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The win extended Simba Bhora's slender lead at the top of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League log standings, but the manner in which it was achieved has left both sides with plenty to ponder.
From the outset, Simba Bhora seemed intent on wrapping things up quickly.
Spearheaded by the industrious Ishmael Nyanhi, the home side created several early chances.
Nyanhi was the architect of the opening goal, delivering a glorious cross that found Emmanuel Ziocha, who tapped it home in the 35th minute. It seemed like the floodgates were about to open.
But Kwekwe United, with nothing to lose, had other plans.
Their response was immediate and clinical. In stoppage time before the break, they were awarded a penalty after a clumsy foul by Boid Mutukure.
Timothy January stepped up and coolly converted, silencing the home crowd and setting the stage for a tense second half.
The second 45 minutes became a masterclass in frustration for Simba Bhora.
They huffed and puffed, creating chances that went begging.
A free header from Isaskar Gurirab after another good delivery from Nyanhi, sailed wide, and substitute McKinnon Mushore inexplicably failed to convert a simple tap-in.
The champions looked desperate and wasteful, and for a long stretch, Kwekwe United seemed poised to snatch an unlikely point.
The game's turning point came in the 82nd minute. Following a freekick, a chaotic scramble ensued inside the Kwekwe United penalty box.
In the melee, Webster Tafa managed to bundle the ball over the line.
The goal was immediately met with furious protests from Kwekwe players and officials, who claimed their goalkeeper had been impeded.
The referee, however, stood firm, and the goal stood, giving Simba Bhora a crucial lead.
Dinyero didn't mince words after the match, pointing the finger directly at the officiating.
"The game was balanced but it was spoiled by the referees," he said. "That second goal wasn't supposed to be a goal. Our goalkeeper was being handled by a player, but he let the play continue. Our standard of refereeing is poor at the moment."
Just when Kwekwe seemed resigned to their fate, Simba Bhora delivered the final blow.
Deep into stoppage time, substitute Tawonga Kuleya curled a cross-cum-shot that somehow managed to elude the goalkeeper and find the back of the net off the upright. It was a goal born of both luck and persistence, perfectly encapsulating the champions’ performance on the day.
For Simba Bhora coach Joel Luphahla, the win was less about the performance and more about the character his team showed. "I'm happy that they have got resilience and they don't give up," he said. "Each and every time you feel that there is going to be a draw, they don't give up and I'm happy for today. But this is the second time in a row that we have scored at the death of the games and sometimes it can work, but sometimes it cannot work."
With only eight rounds remaining, the title race is heating up.
Simba Bhora’s ability to grind out results, even when they are not at their best, is the hallmark of a champion.
But as the gap at the top remains razor-thin, they will need to find a more convincing stride if they want to avoid a nail-biting finish to the season.
As for Kwekwe United, their valiant effort against the league leaders, despite the outcome, provides little comfort as they remain firmly at the bottom of the log standings.
