Scottland . . . . . . . . . . . 0
Greenfuel . . . . . . . . . . 0
The champagne remains on ice for Scottland’s official coronation, but the focus at Wadzanayi Stadium was firmly fixed on a different kind of survival as Greenfuel managed a gritty goalless draw against the champions-elect.
The crucial point means the Chisumbanje-based side has dragged their desperate fight against the drop to the final, nail-biting day of the season.
A loss here would have likely sealed their fate, but Greenfuel fought with the intensity of a team playing for its life.
While a point against the league's top side is commendable, it was the simultaneous draws involving most of their direct relegation rivals that truly kept their hopes alive. The stalemate saw Greenfuel drop one place to 16th with 36 points, precariously perched just one point above Yadah.
The bottom half of the log is, however, a minefield of congestion, with even 10th-placed Highlanders (38 points) within striking distance of the dreaded drop zone.
It's a battle royale for safety, setting the stage for an explosive final round of fixtures.
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Desperate for three points, Greenfuel started the match brightly, surprising a Scottland side who, having sealed the title last week, might have lacked their usual ferocious edge.
Their goalkeeper Nelson Chadya was called into action early, producing two smart saves within the opening 15 minutes.
The best chance of the half fell to Greenfuel's talismanic midfielder Ronald Chitiyo in the 17th minute.
Finding himself with too much room inside the box, the experienced campaigner disappointingly shot marginally over the bar, a moment that could prove costly in the grand scheme of things.
Scottland, parading a star-studded lineup in what amounted to a celebratory outing, eventually settled into the rhythm of the game.
Perhaps the only player with genuine personal motivation was striker Tymon Machope, locked in a battle for the Golden Boot.
However, his pursuit was derailed in the 24th minute when the towering forward was forced off with an injury, replaced by Malawian Khuda Myaba. Machope remains two goals shy of the current top scorer.
Despite the setback, the home side created several decent opportunities throughout the match, with Khama Billiat, the Musona brothers Knowledge and Walter, and Mafios Chihweta and Myaba all guilty of spurning chances.
The second half mirrored the first, with Scottland dominating possession and territory, but Greenfuel's resolute defending, driven by sheer necessity, held firm.
In the end, the goalless draw was a fair reflection of Greenfuel’s fighting spirit versus Scottland’s celebratory control.
The point moved Scottland to 66 points, and will miss the 70 point mark that coach Tonderai Ndiraya had set his club to meet, while Greenfuel lives to fight another day in the most thrilling relegation scrap in recent memory.
Results
Yadah 1-1 Dynamos
Highlanders 1-1 Manica Diamonds
CAPS United 0-0 MWOS
Scottland 0-0 Greenfuel
Bikita Minerals 1-1 Simba Bhora
FC Platinum 0-0 Herentals.
Ngezi Platinum 0-0 Chicken Inn
ZPC Kariba 0-0 TelOne
Triangle United 4-0 Kwekwe
