The Sunday News
How Mine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
Harare City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
Chicken Inn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 3
FC Platinum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 1
VISITING Harare City were left to rue missed chances with Raymond Uchena failing to convert from the penalty spot as they duly held How Mine to a goalless draw in a lukewarm Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match played at Luveve Stadium yesterday.
The visitors were gifted with a penalty in the 64th minute when Menard Mupera upended the troublesome Martin Vengesayi who had outsmarted his compatriots. As the slippery Vengesai went for the kill with only the home side’s goalkeeper Dovan Bernard the last obstacle, Mupera came to the rescue albeit illegally and outstanding match referee Nkosana Nduna pointed to the spot. Mupera was booked for the offence although he had the last laugh as Bernard dived to the left to block Uchena’s effort.
The penalty summed up Harare City’s day of missed chances particularly in the second half as the visitors laid siege on the How Mine’s goal, with coach, Taurai Mangwiro lamenting his team’s poor conversion rate.
The first half was an evenly balanced affair with both sides taking their chances but it was How Mine striker, Kudakwashe Musharu who came up with the first clear cut chance of the game when he made a trademark dash on the left flank into the penalty box but his shot went straight to goal minder, Tafadzwa Dube.
Tapiwa Kumbuyani was left clutching his head in disbelief after his effort inside the box hit the crossbar and went back into play just a minute before the break.
The better part of the second half belonged to Harare City with the visitors creating several chances but could not get one past Bernard with Talent Chawapihwa, Honey Chimutimunzeve and Uchena being the chief culprits.
Dube had to be substituted in the 63rd minute following a clash with Limited Chikafa and he was replaced by Tatenda Munditi.
Mangwiro rued the missed penalty adding his side needed to be more accurate upfront.
“I am disappointed with the result because we should have bagged all the three points as we were on top of the game and we looked sharp going into the final third but we were let down by our conversion rate.
“I think we are now coming good after losing our first game and we have done well to collect two points away in two games,” he said.
How Mine coach, Luke Masomere was happy with the result saying they played better than their last performance against Flame Lily.
“We had a good game and created several chances but it is unfortunate we couldn’t take them but I am happy with the way we played and I believe with time we will come right,” said Vahombe.
Meanwhile Chicken Inn went on top of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League log table when they walloped home side FC Platinum 3-1 in a match played at Mandava Stadium in Zvishavane yesterday.
The Bulawayo side found all the important goals through George Majika, Devine Lunga and Clement Matawu while Kugona Kunenge Kudada found their consolation through the hard running Donald Ngoma.
The win means that Chicken Inn are now top of the 16-team log standings with 12 points from five games two more than joint log leaders Triangle and Dynamos, who both play their league games today.
At Gwanzura Stadium in Harare debutants Dongo Sawmill ended a three game losing streak when they held ZPC Kariba to a one-all draw with a workaholic performance that nearly stunned the home side.
The visitors, who got their season off to a fine start with a 2-all draw against FC Platinum before losing to Triangle, Dynamos and How Mine, raced into a sixth minute lead when Martin Nyanzira coolly slotted home to beat a badly exposed Wilson Muchenje in goals for ZPC Kariba.
The goal stung the home side into action as they started pushing forward in search of an equaliser which duly came on 24 minutes thanks to an Artwell Nyamiwa header off a fine cross from Dexter Phiri.
However, the equaliser did not deter Dongo who showed no respect for last season’s league runners-up.
However, poor shooting and some good saves from Muchenje denied them a debut Premiership triumph.
