Caps kick out Chicken Inn

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Chicken Inn .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(0) 1 Caps United . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 2

Chicken Inn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(0) 1 Caps United . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 2

CAPS United coach Taurai Mangwiro set aside his differences with his paymasters to lead his charges to a 2-1 victory against Chicken Inn in a Mbada Diamonds Cup quarter-final match played at Ascot Stadium, Gweru, yesterday.

Sukoluhle Mthethwa Sports Reporter

The Green Machine got their goals from Tawanda Nyamandwe 18 minutes into the match with David Rediyoni, weighing in with the second in the 60th minute to book a place in the semi-final.

Chicken Inn got their consolation goal from Brian Mbiriri in the 51st minute.

Mangwiro said: “It was a well-earned victory. We worked as a unit. Chicken Inn is a strong side, but we are happy that we are through to the next stage. It was through hard work. The win has brought confidence to our support base and it has steadied our ship and brought sanity back at the club.”

Mangwiro — who had quit the Green Machine following their 1-3 defeat to Shabanie Mine last weekend — bounced back days later after reconciling with the Harare side.

Mandla Mpofu, the Chicken Inn coach said their performance was not been convincing.

“The first half was not good enough, but we picked ourselves up in the second half. We were not sharp upfront. Tendai Ndoro and Tendai Mukambi missed about three chances in the first half. Our defensive organisation was poor as we failed to deal with corner-kicks effectively. Caps were dangerous when it came to corner-kicks. The referee was also not at his best, but that is not an excuse. We have to go back to the drawing board and plan for the next match,” he said.

Caps United goalkeeper Tafadzwa Dube was voted man-of-the-match and walked away with $500.

“It feels great that we have won. Our hard work has finally paid off,” he said.

“A cup game is different because it has rewards. I will continue working hard. It’s good to work hard because people are finally noticing.”

Chicken Inn striker Mukambi got the first chance four minutes into the match, which was tipped over bar by Dube.

Caps United — who went into the match on the offensive — piled on pressure on the GameCox and were rewarded in the 18th minute when Ronald Pfumidzai’s well taken corner found Nyamandwe inside the box and he stunned Chicken Inn goalkeeper Njabulo Nyoni with a powerful header into the net.

Mukambi could have levelled the scores in the 27th minute, but shot wide from a Ndoro pass.

Caps United came charging in the 39th minute through Dominic Chungwa who hit the upright post from Nyamandwe. Ndoro’s response was saved by Dube after receiving the ball from Mbiriri.

Mbiriri unleashed a shot to level the scores six minutes after the break setting the stage for an exciting second half.

Not to be outdone, Caps United went a goal up through Rediyoni from a Rahman Kutsanzira corner making it the second goal conceded through a corner.

Clemence Matawu was hacked down inside the box by Stephen Makatuka, but referee Thabani Bhamala adjudged that the former Motor Action midfielder had dived flashing a yellow card in the process.

Chicken Inn were gifted with an opportunity to level the scores in the 88th minute when goalkeeper Dube was cautioned for playing the ball inside the box and later handling without passing to his teammate first.

Danny Phiri took the indirect free-kick passing to Mbiriri who blasted it towards goal, but hit the post.