The Sunday Mail
Harare City ………………………..0
Chicken Inn………………………..0
No team is drawing like Harare City in the Castle Premier Soccer League this season.
City were held to their 14th draw, the most by any team so far this season, by an impressive Chicken Inn side at Rufaro yesterday.
In the end, it was a positive result for Harare City who played second fiddle and were lucky to survive a Nicole Mutatiwa first half strike that hit the post.
Harare City coach Mark Harrison admitted as much.
“I don’t think we were prepared for them to press as hard as they did in the first half,” he said.
“They made it very difficult for us to even try get started…I think only after about 35 minutes did we start to feel the ball a little bit.”
Harrison blames poor finishing for the number of matches they have shared the spoils, but is hopeful of a positive finish to the season.
“We have drawn a lot of games, some games we should have won, some games maybe not, so it balances a little bit.
“I think our misgive this season is we have not been able to finish our chances.
“There are still a few more games to go, so we will try pick points and push up the table,” Harrison said.
For all their delightful passing game, Chicken Inn could not score and this was largely due to Harare City’s big goal keeper Ryan Harrison.
And he was in imaculate form.
The Bulawayo side could have grabbed the lead in the 16th minute when a Mutatiwa strike from outside the box hit the post to the left side of Harrison’s goal before rolling across goal to go out for a goal kick.
It was a clear sign of intent by the visitors who were unlucky to lose Innocent Muchaneka who suffered an ankle injury from a Hastings Chapusha challenge midway the first half.
Harare City continued chasing the ball and were awful when in possession as they easily turned it over.
City’s diminutive midfielder Tellmore Pio was the chief culprit in giving away possession and when he was substituted for Marvin Gaki right on the stroke of half time, it told the first half story for the hosts.
They improved in the second half.
The Gamecock’s coach Joel Antipas said yesterday’s performance reflected how they have performed this season.
“That’s been our story the whole season that we should have definitely grabbed points, but we either drew or lost.
“Of late we have been integrating some younger players, they’re doing well, they will definitely be a force in the seasons to come,” he said.
“I thought we were the better side, especially in the first half when we created numerous chances but we failed to put them away…
“I wouldn’t say l was really disappointed but l thought we should have walked away with maximum points,” said Antipas.
Teams
Harare City
R Harrison, H Chapusha, T Chimwemwe, M Muchenje, W Manondo, P Mpelele, L Muyambo, R Uchena, I Wadi ( M Vengesayi 84th), K Musharu ( W Muvirimi 70th), T Pio (M Gaki 45th)
Chicken Inn
P Zendera, X Ndlovu, P Bernard, G Majika (C Matawu 59th), M Jackson, S Munawa, O Chirinda, I Mucheneka (J Nyabinde 24th), N Mutatiwa, N Muchadeyi (K Nasama 76th), L Sithole,
