Herentals Queens closer to title
HERENTALS Queens marched closer to their first ever Women’s Super League football title with this statement win at Motor Action Sports Club yesterday.
Striker Maud Mafuruse and Praynance Zvawanda notched the goals in the first half in a match attended by a good crowd including the World Boxing Council super-bantamweight interim champion Kudakwashe” Take Money” Chiwandire.
The Students now need just a point in their last match against MSU at home to be confirmed champions.
With 70 points to their name, only Black Rhinos Queens, who have three games in hand, can reach that mark if they win all their remaining four matches.
That means Herentals Queens mathematically need a single point to be crowned champions should the army team win their remaining games including this afternoon against Mambas.
With that in their minds and coming up against one of the best sides in the league yesterday, Herentals were jittery, especially in the opening phases of the game.
They allowed Edline Mutumbami and the league’s leading scorer Ethel Chinyerere to bully them before entirely taking over proceedings midway through the first half.
With utility player Shyline Dambamuromo on top of her game and Loveness Mukura impressive, Herentals Queens started to dominate both territory and the ball.
Zvawanda embarked on a solo run to meet a clever chip from Yeukai Chipatiko and laid the ball through to Mafuruse who made no mistake for the opener 10 minutes before the break.
The Students continued to bombard the Chapungu area and with a bit of precision Mukura should have added her name on the score sheet.
At the opposite end Chinyerere tried a spectacular but found Lindiwe Magwede, in goals for the hosts in top form. Magwede has now kept 21 clean sheets, the best in the league.
Zvawanda then doubled the lead and sealed the win for Herentals in a spectacular fashion, volleying home from outside the box after some poor marking by their opponents.
The second half wasn’t as lively as the first with Herentals being cautious while Chapungu were rushing their efforts.
Both teams finished the match one player down after Mukura and Chapungu’s Sheila Antonio were dismissed for unsportsmanlike conduct when pushing and shoving off the ball.
Herentals coach Simbarashe Dedza was elated with the win.
“This is it and we are enjoying. This was the match we feared we could lose it but my girls came prepared and they applied themselves well,” he said.
“I am excited and we are only a point away from glory.
“It was a very difficult match. Chapungu wanted it and we also wanted it. But at the end of the day, we showed character and I am elated.
“What’s needed now is to remain composed and approach our last match with extra care.”
Herentals Queens could even be confirmed champions today of Black Rhinos Queens who have dominated the scene for the past decade fail to collect the maximum points against Mambas Queens.