Easy ride for Caps

Sport
WELL, it was all too easy for Caps United in the end!

Caps United. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(2) 3 Tripple B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 WELL, it was all too easy for Caps United in the end!

REPORT BY HENRY MHARA

A double by Hardlife Zvirekwi in the first half ensured the Green Machine moved into the top four of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League after condemning Tripple B to their 11th defeat of the season yesterday.

Dominic Chungwa added the third at the National Sports Stadium in Harare to ensure a fifth straight home win for the former champions.

Caps coach Taurai Mangwiro was happy with the win saying it was a “massive result” while Tripple B coach Peter Manoti was gracious in defeat.

He conceded that Caps United were a better side and deserved the three points. Caps now have 35 points, three behind the defending champions.

As for Tripple B, yesterday’s defeat was their 11th of the season in 20 matches as the Beitbridge-based side sit second from the bottom with 17 points.

The game had started reasonably evenly, Tripple B slightly enjoying more possession and creating the first real chance of the game.

Striker Maxwell Mavhuto was brought down on the right corner of the penalty box by defender Arnold Chivheya and Julius Daudi’s resultant kick only went as far as the wall.

Caps United’s first clear chance would arrive after 12 minutes when Chungwa sneaked in between goalkeeper Tapuwa Mafunga and his defender, but the striker’s diagonal shot went just wide.

Tripple B got another free-kick moments later, this time more centrally and Timire Mamvura fired way over the crossbar.

Chances continued for the away side with Mavhuto creating pockets of space inside the box, but the striker shot over.

They would pay the heavy price for the missed chances when Zvirekwi fired home from outside the box in the 33rd minute.

Match day referee Rugare Kusosa added seven minutes of first-half injury time and Caps United made full use of that time.

Striker Tawanda Nyamandwe was fouled just outside the box and Zvirekwi took responsibility to increase his side’s advantage.

Unlike in the first half, Caps United were quickest out of the blocks at the start of the second half.

Rahman Kutsanzira and Benson Maglasi had efforts cleared off the line while Tapiwa Khumbuyani hit the side netting early on.

The pressure was becoming relentless and Tripple B finally gave in when Chungwa reacted quickly to tap home a rebound seven minutes into the second half.

Mangwiro handed the highly rated Tinovimba Muskwe his debut later in the match and the Caps United junior policy product did not disappoint.

He gave the Caps United faithfuls a glimpse of what to expect in the future when he almost scored with his first touch, releasing a long-range shot which the keeper blocked.

Very good on the ball, Muskwe intelligently switched play to the right on 82nd minute to find his captain Khumbuyani whose cross was headed in by substitute Leonard Fiyado, but the goal was disallowed for an offside.

Teams: Caps United: T Dube, T Khumbuyani, A Chivheya, S Matakuta, R Pfumbidzai, T Samanja, R Kutsanzira, H Zvirekwi (B Zabula, 85th min), B Maglasi (T Muskwe, 76th min), D Chungwa, T Nyamandwe (L Fiyado, 65th min). Tripple B: T Mafunga, F Makambanga, T Mukondwa, O Chove, E Mwinga, T Mamvura, MK Mavhuto (P Makanje (81st min), W Chingodza, J Daudi, A Marime, M Kawashu (S Sithole 90+1st min). Results at a glance Yesterday: Caps United 3-0 Tripple B, How Mine 0-0 Black Mambas Wednesday: Harare City 1-3 Dynamos, Highlanders 2-0 Monomotapa, Buffaloes 1-0 Chicken Inn, Hwange 0-1 FC Platinum, Black Rhinos 2-0 Shabanie Mine, Motor Action 0-2 Triangle