The Sunday News
Dumisani Nsingo, Senior Reporter
A hat-trick by McCathy Dube was enough to see Talen Vision through to the final of the Landa John Nkomo Memorial Cup after claiming the scalp of Tshotsholo 3-2 in a lively match played at Luveve Stadium yesterday.
The match pitting two teams that kept breathing on the neck of eventual Zifa Southern Region championship winners, Hwange for the better part of the season lived up to its billing of a thriller.
It was Tsholotsho who started to settle into the match with their impressive free flow attacking soccer with Talen Vision who had decided to give most of their fringe players a run seemingly struggling to cope with their much illustrious opponents.
Tsholotsho found the opener in the 18th minute through the boot of Tinashe Mthimkhulu who took advantage of a disjointed Talen Vision’s defence to stab the ball home.
Tsholotsho continued to pile on the pressure on their opponents.
However, a quick counter attack initiated from the right flank saw Dube rising above Tsholotsho’s rearguard to head the ball into the nets beyond the reach of goalkeeper Norman Zimba for the equaliser.
A pep talk by head coach Mkhuphali “Mr Cooper” Masuku and his assistant Xolani “Squarer” Nkundlande might have proved the remedy as Talen Vision went into the lead two minutes into the second half when Dube scrambled the ball into the nets in a goal mouth melee.
In the 57th minute Tsholotsho’s Khalimani Ncube broke loose on the right and sent in an inch perfect cross, which was met by a perfect positioned Felix Moyo inside the box for an equaliser.
In the 77th minute the former Highlanders and Bantu Rover Rovers’ youthful striker grabbed his hat-trick when he beat a cluster of defenders inside the 18 yard box to rifle the ball on the top of the roof.
Talen Vision will meet the winner of today’s other semi-final, pitting Hwange and ZPC Hwange at the Colliery Stadium.
Liquor Hub are sponsoring the tournament to the tune of $5 000.
Winners of the cup will get $1 300, while the runners-up will walk away $600 richer. The third and fourth-placed teams will each get $300.
@DNsingo
