CAPS United........(1) 1
Herentals FC......... (1) 2
AGELESS utility player Ralph Kawondera swept home his 10th goal of the season to complete a thrilling comeback victory for Herentals FC as they edged CAPS United 2-1 at Rufaro Stadium yesterday.
The vital victory propelled Herentals into second place on the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League log standings, tied on 33 points with Makepekepe, who slipped to third. Both teams now trail pacesetters Scottland FC by seven points.
CAPS United started the match as the stronger side, creating the better openings in the first half. Ishmael Wadi missed a golden opportunity in the 17th minute, firing wide after being played through by a defense-splitting pass from Tanaka Shandirwa.
Just after the half-hour mark, Kundai Benyu blazed over the bar from inside the box after being set up by a Takunda Benhura flick.
The Green Machine eventually broke the deadlock four minutes before the break. Wadi made amends for his earlier miss, calmly sending Herentals goalkeeper Tinotenda Takarinda the wrong way from the penalty spot.
However, Makepekepe’s joy was short-lived. Herentals restored parity on the stroke of halftime when Tawanda Chisi cleverly redirected an Eric Dombo shot into the back of the net.
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Seeking to seize control, Herentals coach Paul Benza made a double tactical switch at the restart, introducing Tinashe Mazambani and Anesu Chirinda for Innocent Benza and Lot Chiwunga.
The changes sparked life into the Students, who dominated the second half.
Chirinda came close to giving Herentals the lead around the hour mark when he met a low cross from Kawondera, only to be denied by an outstanding block from CAPS United goalkeeper Wallace Magalane.
The decisive moment arrived 15 minutes from time. Kawondera, who began the match in defense, was pushed upfront in search of a winner and duly delivered, sweeping the ball home from inside the box to secure maximum points before being redeployed to the back line to protect the lead.
The defeat leaves CAPS United with just one win from their last eight matches, causing them to lose significant ground in the title race.
An ecstatic Paul Benza praised his team's resilience and singled out Kawondera for his versatility.
Meanwhile, Relegation threatened Telone FC produced a rousing second-half fightback to force a 1-1 draw against MWOS FC at Ascot Stadium in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match.
Aristotle Manyamba and Tawanda Macheke scored in either halves of the match for MWOS FC and TelOne FC respectively.
MWOS FC were gifted the lead on 21 minutes when Telone FC goalkeeper Takudzwa Chikosi misjudged what looked like a harmless cross into the box.
The ball dropped awkwardly and Aristotle Manyamba was the quickest to react, freely heading into an empty net to punish the error. It was a goal out of nothing, with TelOne barely threatening up to that point.
Telone came out a different side after the break. Saul Chaminuka’s double substitution on 60th minutes changed the complexion of the game completely.
Panashe Mtasa replaced Donald Teguru to add pace down the right, while Jerry Chipangura came on for Innocent Mucheneka to bring more bite and control in the middle. The WiFi Boys suddenly had urgency and belief.
The pressure paid off 10 minutes from time, Mtasa, who had been a menace since his introduction, skipped past two defenders and drilled a low cross into the area. Tawanda Macheke arrived right on time to sweep it home the equalizer and make it 1-1.
They should have completed the turnaround just two minutes later on 82 minutes. Macheke rose highest from a Marvellous Chigumira corner-kick a corner and his powerful header beat the goalkeeper, only to thunder off the underside of the crossbar.
Telone became relentless and on the 85tj minutes Allan Chapinduka tried his luck from distance, unleashing a curling effort that had the MWOS keeper well beaten. For a moment Ascot thought it hit the nets, but the woodwork came to MWOS’ rescue as the ball crashed against the upright.
Results
Herentals 2-1 CAPS United
Hunters 2-1 Simba Bhora
Telone 1-1 MWOS
Ngezi Platinum 0-2 Scottland
Bulawayo Chiefs 2-0 Agama
