Chapungu . . . (1) (1) Black Rhinos . . .(0)
MUKUDZEI CHINGWERE SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
CHAPUNGU completed a double over their army rivals Black Rhinos with a narrow 1-0 win in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match played at Ascot Stadium yesterday which keeps their fight against relegation alive.
Ngonidzashe Murisa’s solitary strike from the penalty spot was all the Gweru-based team needed to collect maximum points.
In their previous encounter at Rimuka in Kadoma, the match ended in an identical 1-0 win in favour of Chapungu.
The result has put the airmen in firm position to avoid the drop in their maiden season in top-flight football.
They now have 37 points with one game left to play before the season ends and travel to Highlanders in two weeks’ time.
Black Rhinos remained on 34 points, which puts them in a major risk of being demoted.
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After the match, Chapungu head coach John Nyikadzino praised his charges for a job well done, emphasising the importance of yesterday’s result.
“Thumbs up to the boys, they did very well,” he said. “It was a tough match considering our positions on the log standings. This was an important result which is likely to guarantee us premiership football next season.”
A visibly dejected Rhinos coach, Jostein Mathuthu, snubbed the media.
After 14 minutes of action Waru Waru took a deserved lead when Murisa converted a penalty which was awarded after Bruce Homora had handled Maxwell Mavhuto’s cross in the penalty area.
Ten minutes before the breather, Chipembere were beginning to smell blood, but Jameson Mukombwe’s audacious long-range shot was expertly stopped by Roy Mazingi in goal for Chapungu.
Fifteen minutes after restart Homora had space to shoot, but his effort was dismally off target.
Eighteen minutes before full time, Charles Murisa perfectly controlled the ball inside the box, but blazed his effort wide of Zvaita’s goal.
After 83 minutes of toiling, Chipembere thought they had the elusive and all-important equaliser, but Lot Chiwunga’s effort crashed against the upright.