Hwange halt losing streak, share spoils

Harare City . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 1
Hwange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 1
HWANGE ended their three-match losing streak when they battled from behind to share the spoils with Harare City in a Castle Lager Premiership match at Rufaro yesterday.

City raced into an early lead when the speedy Martin Vengesayi connected a Phenias Bhamusi cross to beat a badly exposed Takabva Mawaya in goals for the visitors.

Chipangano responded 14 minutes later with a spectacular freekick by right back Phakhamani Dube.
The effort, from about 25 metres out, beat the lights out of Maxwell Nyamupanedengu in goals for last season’s league runners up.

However, City have Nyamupanedengu to thank as the goalie twice denied the visitors from point-blank range. First was Evans Rusike who outpaced Arnold Chivheya only for the forward to watch in disbelief as Nyamupanedengu stopped his effort with a handful of the travelling fans up in anticipation.

With a quarter of an hour remaining second half substitute Newman Siyanchali saw his dangerous effort pushed out for a corner after the City central defence pairing of Chivheya and David Kutyauripo had been sliced open. The draw changed nothing for the duo on the log standings with the visitors remaining fifth with 23 points while City’s 15 points keeps them 12th.

Masimba Dinyero, who stood in for Bigboy Mawiwi, remains confident that City, who travel to Hwange next weekend, will claw up the ladder.

“We are not pressing the panic button as yet, there are still a number of matches to play and we are confident we will climb up.

“I must admit we are lucky to have gotten a point from this match and we have Nyamupanedengu to thank because he saved some face-to-face efforts,” said Dinyero.

Hwange assistant coach Brian Njobvu is delighted that his charges managed to stop their run of defeats.
“I am happy we got a point today after losing our last three matches. Hopefully we will start winning again,” he said.