GOOD START…Chicken Inn shock Sundowns

14 Feb, 2016 - 00:02 0 Views
GOOD START…Chicken Inn shock Sundowns No through road . . . Chicken Inn captain Danny Phiri (right) thwarts Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Keagan Doll in a Caf Champions League, preliminary round, first leg match at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday

The Sunday News

Mehluli Sibanda Senior Sports Reporter
Chicken Inn …………………………. (1) 1

Mamelodi Sundowns ……………….. 0
ZIMBABWEAN champions Chicken Inn made a dream start in their maiden dance in the Confederation of African Football Champions League with a magnificent win over South African side Mamelodi Sundowns in an action packed preliminary round, first leg match played in front of a good crowd at Barbourfields Stadium in Bulawayoyesterday.

A fantastic first half goal from striker Michelle Katsvairo made sure that Chicken Inn have the advantage heading into the second leg to be staged at the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium in Pretoria, South Africa at the end of this month.

Credit must go to Chicken Inn coach Joey Antipas for plotting the downfall of one of the best assembled teams on the African continent. So much was said of the “CBD” effect at Sundowns, which is the Castro, Billiat and Dolly combination that has propelled the Brazilians to the top of the Absa Premiership. First Zimbabwean talisman Khama Billiat was forced out of the starting line up by a tight hamstring with his place taken up by Themba Zwane and when the match came to its conclusion only Colombian striker Leonardo Castro was still on the field of play with Keagan Dolly having been taken out for Botswana international Mogakolodi Ngele.

What should be a cause for concern for Antipas is the fact that his players created lots of goal scoring opportunities throughout the match but failed to put them to good use.

Sundowns had started off the match well, Chicken Inn goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze called into action to deal with a dangerous looking cross from Tebogo Langerman in the first minute.

Chicken Inn striker Obadiah Tarumbwa in the fifth minute failed to convert a chance created for him by Katsvairo on the right.

Chicken Inn came hunting in a space of seconds, first Wayne Sandilands, the Sundowns goalkeeper did well to keep out a cross from Edmore Chirambadare with Tarumbwa ready to pounce and then Katsvairo blazed his effort way over the bar.

Chipezeze did well again to collect a Dolly cross off the head of Castro in the 18th minute. As action swiftly moved to the other end Tarumbwa could not again punish the visitors after a neat build-up by the Gamecocks. Dolly’s dangerous looking delivery found no takers in the 26th minute.

Barbourfields Stadium erupted in the 34th minute when Katsvairo latched onto a long cross, beat off the challenge of Wayne Arendse who he left on the ground and unleashed a powerful shot which beat a diving Sandilands on the far post.

At the start of the second half, Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane removed an ineffective Teko Modise for Zimbabwean striker Cuthbert Malajila. Katsvairo missed an opportunity to put his side further ahead in the 49th minute when he guided his effort wide off target from a Tarumbwa cross. Chirambadare drew out a brilliant save from Sandilands in the 51st minute with a brilliant left footer with Sandilands doing well to push the ball out for a corner.

In the 66th minute, Arendse did well to clear a Chirambadare delivery out for a corner as Chicken Inn continued with their dominance over the visitors.

Teams
Chicken Inn: Elvis Chipezeze, Passmore Bernard, Devine Lunga, Moses Jackson, Lawrence Mhlanga, Danny Phiri, Tafadzwa Kutinyu(Demera 90+2 minutes), Obadiah Tarumbwa(Juru 86 minutes), George Majika(Madhazi 62 minutes), Michelle Katsvairo, Edmore Chirambadare

Mamelodi Sundowns: Wayne Sandilands, Thabo Nthethe, Asavela Mbekile (Siyanda Zwane 22 minutes), Tebogo Langerman, Wayne Arendse, Keagan Dolly (Ngele 77 minutes), Hlompo Kekana, Teko Modise (Malajila 46 minutes), Leonardo Castro, Themba Zwane, Mzikayise Mashaba

Match Officials
Referee: Kutlwano Leso

First assistant referee: Meshack Medupi

Second assistant referee: Kitso Sibanda

Fourth official: Omphile Phuthego

Match Commissioner: George Mario Fernandes.

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