The Sunday Mail
Langton Nyakwenda
Harare City 0
Triangle 0
FORMER Warriors goalkeeper Maxwell Nyamupanedengu saved a penalty and made several vital blocks as Harare City survived an onslaught from a changed Triangle side at Rufaro yesterday. The result left Harare City stuck on fifth while fading Triangle, winless in their last seven matches, remained fourth.
The visitors were a changed side from the one that suffered a humiliating 0-5 drubbing against the same opponents in the Chibuku quarterfinal last weekend and could have grabbed three points had it not been for Nyamupanedengu’s star performance.Nyamupanedengu, who was preferred ahead of regular starter Tafadzwa Dube, denied Triangle a golden chance to take the lead in first half added time when he dived to his right to save Ronald Mudimu’s spot kick.Triangle keeper Mudimu rarely misses from the spot but he was thwarted by a fired up Nyamupanedengu and ended up getting a yellow for simulation as he tried to go for the rebound.
Referee Thabani Bamala, fairly good all afternoon, awarded the penalty after City defender Arnold Chivheya had fouled bustling striker Felix Kuswatuka.
Two minutes earlier, Nyamupanedengu had done well to keep his side in the game, tipping over a snap half volley by centre back Jimmy Dzingai.
Nyamupanedengu had his fingertips to a Malvin Gaki curling free kick that ended up hitting the cross bar, early in the first half before he denied Tawanda Muyendi in a face to face situation in the 26th minute.Harare City had their own chances too. In the ninth minute Osborne Mukuradare lobbed his effort just over the bar while William Manondo had his hard and low shot dealt with by Mudimu in the 50th.The visitors’ coach Kelvin Kaindu felt his side were worthy of maximum points.
“I think we should have won. We came a different side today (yesterday) from the team that lost 5-0 last week.
“I am glad we are heading somewhere, we hope to collect maximum points in our next home match,” said Kaindu whose team faces Flame Lily at Gibo in their next league assignment.
His counterpart Mangwiro admitted Triangle gave his side a scare but opined that it was a game of two halves.
“They had to find a solution after last week’s result and they did. They brought in some new players, they created clear chances but in the second half we came back stronger,” he said.
Teams
Harare City: M. Nyamupanedengu, G. Chimwemwe, T. Ndlovu, A. Chiveya, C. Dickson, M. Vengesayi (F. Zekumbawire 82), T. Samanja, J. Jam, T. Chawapiwa (K. Kumwala 54), O. Mukuradare (B. Maglasi 63), W. Manondo
Triangle: R. Mudimu, D. Phiri, J. Dzingai, E. Mwinga, J. Tigere, T. Chipunza (H. Mavundi 50), M. Mukumba, P. Manhanga (C. Kamhapa 70), M. Gaki (M. Chiwara 80), T. Muyendi, F. Kuswatuka
