Herentals .........0
CAPS United .....0
CAPS United, battling to escape the relegation quagmire, secured a vital point in a thrilling Castle Lager Premier Soccer League encounter against Herentals FC at Rufaro Stadium yesterday.
The Green Machine, who finished the match with 10 men, will feel they could have secured a win had they been more clinical in front of goal, but the draw nonetheless markeda significant step forward after their disappointing home defeat to ZPC Kariba.
The result sees CAPS United move to 12th place on the log with 32 points from 28 matches, now just two points above the relegation zone.
Herentals, on the other hand, missed an opportunity to climb to fifth place and remain in seventh position with 42 points from 28 matches, though the point does stem a run of two consecutive losses.
Makepekepe, desperate for a win, showed their intent from the onset and could have easily been in the lead by halftime.
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They had a flurry of chances late in the first half, with striker Ishmael Wadi at the heart of the action.
He found himself one-on-one with Herentals goalkeeper Tinotenda Takarinda but his attempted dink was brilliantly saved.
The loose ball fell to Phineas Bamusi whose low shot was cleared off the line by Tanaka Dhlakama just after the half-hour mark.
Moments later, Kope Mugalu thought he had given the Green Machine the lead with a glancing header, but Takarinda produced yet another astounding save to deny him.
CAPS United finished the first half as the stronger of the two teams, with Kundai Benyu dictating the pace and pulling the strings in the middle of the park.
The second half, however, saw a shift in momentum as Herentals came out with renewed purpose. Substitute Clemence Gobvu had an early chance after some good work from Lot Chiwunga, but he hesitated with the goal gaping in front of him and was dispossessed.
The match took a dramatic turn with a little over 15 minutes remaining when CAPS United’s Brian Kadamanja was shown a second yellow card for kicking the ball into the opposition bench, reducing his side to ten men.
Despite being a man down, the Green Machine held their nerve and saw out the match to secure a hard-fought draw.
CAPS United coach Ian Bakala had mixed feelings about the result.
“I think the point is enough, but I think we needed it more,” he said.
“ Looking at how we played today, we had a couple of chances where we could have done better.
“Coming from a loss in games like this, a chance is enough.”
Bakala also highlighted the need for more responsibility from his players, especifically mentioning Wadi’s missed opportunity.
“We felt like Wadii shifted responsibility,” he said. “Everyone is needed in the team. Shifting responsibility, chances like that, it’s very difficult.
“You can concede a silly goal because of those chances. But overall, I think the team performed well.”
Herentals coach Paul Benza was happy with the point and his team’s performance, especially in the second half.
“Yeah, a very tough game,” Benza said. “And we knew from the beginning that we were going to come against a very good side, despite the fact that they are not picking up points as they are expected, especially considering that they are a big team,” he said.
“But a very good performance from CAPS United, especially in the first half.
“But we managed to take control of the second half and I feel that we could have done better in the second half especially considering that they were one man down.
“But generally, I’m happy with the game and even with the performance of my boys.”
Teams:
Herentals FC: T Takarinda, T Dhlakama (C Gobvu 38’), B Phiri, T Chidhobha (W Chimbetu 38’), T Mupumha, M Mukiwa (J Zhuwawu 69’), T Benza (J Chitavire 46’), B Majarira, I Benza (L Chiwunga 46’), P Mahembe, R Kawondera
CAPS United: S Kwaku, W Milanzi, B Kangwa, B Kadamanja, K Mangiza, T Shandirwa, K Benyu (N Chintuli 69’), I Wadi (T Matongo 75’), P Bamusi, K Mugalu, M Bissila (T Matindife 87’)
