Students derail Sheasham

Herentals .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 1 Sheasham . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0

VETERAN forward Blessing Majarira rose from the bench to convert a late penalty at the National Sports Stadium yesterday that helped Herentals to immediately bounce back from their Castle Lager Premier Soccer League midweek slump.

Majarira has been an effective impact player for Herentals for much of this season.

And he did just that yesterday after coming on as a 46th-minute replacement for Innocent Benza and took the responsibility to convert the Herentals penalty 13 minutes from time.

Referee Patrick Kalota adjudged Sheasham goalkeeper Elton Sibanda had fouled Ali Maliselo and pointed to the spot.

Herentals’ victory, while helping them to move into the top four at least for 24 hours, derailed Sheasham’s march from relegation.

Students coach Kumbirai Mutiwekuziwa was happy to see his charges bounce back after suffering a 1-0 midweek defeat to Hwange at the Colliery.

“It’s a sweet victory for us considering that we are coming from a defeat in Hwange.

“Also, the conditions were not favourable; it was tiresome after the travelling but team effort saw us get the winner,” he said.

“Of course, we missed a lot of chances but it’s part of the game. The most important thing is that we have won.

“We are targeting a top-four finish, so we are going to push for more victories so that we achieve our goal.”

Sheasham gaffer Lizwe Sweswe blamed the defeat on the mistake by his goalkeeper but noted they need to collect maximum points in their next game to stand a better chance to avoid relegation.

“It was a good game.

“We had contained them but we made a mistake towards the end,” said Sweswe.

“We tried to come back into the match but it was not possible because they defended well.

“We now look forward to the next match against Manica Diamonds. We need to bounce back so that we avoid relegation.”

While Sibanda was the villain towards the end, he had brilliantly tipped over a Milton Chimedza header after just four minutes, as Herentals got off to a fine start.

Elsewhere at Gibbo Stadium, Ghanaian international and Triangle top marksman Wilson Mensah’s second-half penalty kept the home side’s survival hopes alive as they salvaged an important point in a 1-1 draw against resurgent Simba Bhora.

In a game played under the scorching heat of the Lowveld, Simba Bhora captain Tinashe Balakasi had earlier scored a beauty of a goal two minutes before half-time after being gifted by Triangle goalkeeper Talbert Shumba.

Instead of back-pedalling and collect the ball inside his box, Shumba somehow chose to clear but his headed effort unfortunately fell into Balakasi’s path, and the rangy forward duly punished him when scoring his ninth goal of the season.

His goal helped his team to ninth position on the log standings.