HARDROCK FC.............(1)6
FC HUNTERS................(0)1
Junior Makunike and Tinashe Mashaireni each notched a brace, while Washington Navaya and Donald Mudadi scored a goal each, as Hardrock FC thumped FC Hunters 6-1 in a thrilling match at Chahwanda Stadium yesterday.
Congolese striker Elie Ilunga scored FC Hunters' consolation as coach Nesbert was left fuming, saying there is something 'fishy' about their game.Hardrock FC remain in second position, with 21 points from 10 matches, and are one point behind log leaders Caps United.
Kelvin Kaindu was on cloud nine in his post-match remarks. He said: "It's a good response. In the last two games, we couldn't pick up maximum points, but we say the strength of the team is the way that we respond in the coming game.
"We haven't done well against the teams that are below, but today it came out strong. We scored six, very good. Despite the six, I think with a bit of composure we could have scored more, but for us to score six goals in a Premier League game shows that we are doing well."
FC Hunters coach Nesbert Saruchera was furious, saying there is 'something fishy' about their game. He said: "This is unusual. There's something wrong about our game. Something is fishy. We need to dig deeper and investigate these results. Something's off, doesn't smell right."
This was an evenly balanced affair from the onset, with FC Hunters itching to make an impact with their impressive passing football. But with their flowery passing football, they were punished as early as the sixth minute when Junior Makunike rose high to nod the ball home from a curling corner kick delivered by Tinotenda Muringai.
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FC Hunters didn't throw in the towel quickly, as Praise Tonha and Vusa Ngwenya tried to beat Tonderai Mateyaunga from range, but he saved all their efforts. The Golden Boys led at half-time, before unleashing their wrath in the second half with Washington Navaya tapping the ball home from a delightful cross whipped in by Andrew Phiri.
Five minutes later, Makunike completed his brace with a tap-in, as the FC Hunters' defense was caught off guard, with the midfielder quick to react after goalkeeper Kelvin Shangiwa parried Phiri's first shot from close range.
Despite the three-goal margin, FC Hunters kept prodding, hoping to turn things around, and they managed to pull one back on the 70th minute via a Congolese striker who beat a diving Tonderai Mateyaunga on a counter-attack.
Tinashe Mashaireni scored Hardrock's fourth goal on the 90th minute, darting the ball home from a pin-point pass from Donald Mudadi. He scored their fifth goal on the second minute of additional time, with Mudadi also weighing in with a beautiful goal, a goal-of-the-season contender, to cap their massive win over the Harare-based side.
TEAMS
HARDROCK FC: Tonderai Mateyaunga, Lennox Mucheto, Tinotenda Muringai, Munyaradzi Diro, Misheck Ngewnya, Munashe Bamara(Tinashe Mashaireni 63'), Andrew Phiri( Wilfred Madzungu 73'), Junior Makunike(Donald Mudadi 84'), Sambulo Simelani(Last Nyilenda 74'), Washington Navaya(Masimba Mambare 83'), Neliswa Dlamini.
FC HUNTERS: Kelvin Shangiwa, Bothwell Nzori, Ronald Pfumbidzai, Junior Meya, Munyaradzi Mushanga(Ordain Sira 53'), Tadiwa Huni, Praise Tonha, Vusa Ngwenya, Junior Meya, Elie Ilunga, King Nadolo (Godfrey Dapwa 46')
Results
Full time
CAPS United 0-1 Bulawayo Chiefs
Hardrock 6-1 Hunters
Agama 0-0 FC Platinum
ZPC Kariba 0-0 MWOS
