Relegation-bound teams share spoils Triangle add misery to Chidzambwa
Flame Lily . . . (0) 2 Tsholothso . . . (1) 2
FLAME Lily forward Moses Demera scored a second half brace to help his team come back from a two-goal deficit and snatch a valuable point at home against fellow Premier League debutants Tsholotsho FC at Larfarge yesterday.
It was a match that marked the battle to avoid the dreaded chop as the second half of the season kicked off with the hosts occupying 13th position on the log table while Ziqholo Ze Zwane are on 14th place.
Tsholotsho, who were parading veterans Joel Luphahla and Danisa Phiri in their starting lineup, took the lead late in the first half through Simbarashe Gorogodyo to take a slender lead into the half-time break.
The visitors extended their lead six minutes after the breather through exciting striker Lynnoth Chikuhwa before Demera struck twice in a space of nine minutes to hand Flame Lily a share of the spoils.
Frustratingly, it was Flame Lily coach Backlyfield Chivenga’s fifth draw in five games since he took over from Nesbert Saruchera a couple of months ago, but he remains defiant.
“It’s never easy to win a premier league game but this was a good comeback and I am happy with what my boys managed to do,” he said.
“Our position on the log is a bit of a bother and the starting point is now. Five games, five draws, we are on the right path but what we need to do is find a formula that can get us to start winning matches,” he added.
Ziqholo Ze Zwane coach Lizwe Sweswe felt his team had missed a great opportunity to take maximum points back to Bulawayo.
“We just gave away three points. We should have collected three points but sometimes it’s just [lack of] maturity. We were well prepared for them and we came here for three points, but unfortunately we got one, but it’s still okay,” said Sweswe.
The first half was rather dull as both teams failed to create clear cut chances, with the home team dominating possession but the visitors scored first against the run of play.
A searching ball from midfield picked out Gorogodyo late in the first half, who coolly slotted past Prosper Chigumba who had been a mere spectator before then.
Six minutes after the restart, Chikuhwa beat the offside trap as he dinked the ball over an advancing Chigumba to extend Tshlotsho’s lead.
Demera pulled one back in the 63rd minute after Tsholotsho goalkeeper Mariyon Chang brought down Motion Mponda who had broken loose.
With 18 minutes to full time, Demera completed his double when his effort bounced off the keeper and trickled into the empty net to save the match for Flame Lily ZPC Kariba . . . (0)1 Triangle . . . (1)2
TRIANGLE FC added misery to troubled ZPC Kariba after the Sugar Sugar Boys edged the power utility outfit 2-1 at Nyamhunga in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match yesterday.
Yesterday’s match saw veteran gaffer Sunday Chidzambwa failing on his fourth attempt as ZPC Kariba coach to collect maximum points.
Triangle were the first to hit the target through hillary Bakacheza in the 13th minute. The match, which however was a balanced affair, reached the break with Triangle clinging on to the slender lead. After the breather with five minutes of play, hardlife Mavundi put the match beyond ZPC Kariba’s reach with another fine finish to make it two for Triangle.
ZPC Kariba then scored their consolation goal in injury time through Tsepo Rantokoane.
All seems not to be well for veteran coach Chidzambwa, who has been at the helm of ZPC Kariba for the past four games but has only managed a draw against Tsholotsho FC.
his first assignment
was against Triangle away at Gibbo where his charges were edged 1-0.
Chidzambwa went on to lose to Tsholotsho FC at home after veteran and former Warriors striker Joel Luphahla rose from the bench to score the only goal of the match that sunk ZPC Kariba.
Chidzambwa managed a draw against Tsholotsho in the reverse fixture in Bulawayo in his third match as ZPC Kariba coach.
The latest loss to Triangle brings the number of games to four, and out of the possible 12 points, Chidzambwa managed only a single point.