The Sunday Mail
Mehluli Sibanda in Bulawayo
Chicken Inn..................(0)2
Buffaloes...........................0
CHICKEN INN recorded their first ever win over Buffaloes in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League when they dismissed the visitors in a physical encounter at Hartsfield Rugby Ground in Bulawayo yesterday.
Second half goals from midfielder Thabani Goredema and leftback Devine Lunga saw Chicken Inn finally pick up their first set of three points against Buffaloes, the Gamecocks avenging the same scoreline with which they were beaten by away in Mutare.
In five previous meetings between the two teams since 2012, Buffaloes had won three while the other two had ended in draws.
Yesterday’s win, the 12th for the Gamecocks saw Chicken Inn take their points tally to 44 which lifted them to a fifth overnight place on the log, two points above Highlanders and Hwange, both on 42 points and are in action this afternoon.
The match started off as a physical affair with some nasty tackles coming from both sides.
George Majika earned himself a yellow card from referee Mlindeli Ndebele with just two minutes played for a rough challenge on Tafadzwa Mombeshora.
Buffaloes put pressure on Chicken Inn with the visitors wasting some glorious goal scoring chances, Jacob Muzokomba and Juwakinyu Kastigu the guilty parties.
Muzokomba brought out a good save from Elvis Chipezeze when sent through on the left but the keeper pushed the ball out for a corner with 10 minutes gone.
Goredema came close for Chicken Inn with a well taken free kick from outside the box.
Malvern Fenyeka went into the referee’s book for an unfair challenge on Lunga.
Thomas Chimenya’s header off a Clemence Matawu’s cross proved not powerful enough to trouble Blessing Mwandimutsira in goals for the visitors.
Kelvin Thembani almost turned the ball into his own net with a rushed clearance when Majika sent in a cross into the box.
Chicken Inn piled on the pressure at the beginning of the second half and it resulted in a goal. A neat exchange of passes culminated in Chimenya laying the ball for Goredema who slammed it into the nets.
Chimenya missed an opportunity to extend his team’s lead in the 63rd minute with his header going over the bar.
Lunga made it 2-0 to Chicken Inn with a free header off a Majika corner kick in the 71st minute.
Teams:
Chicken Inn: Elvis Chipezeze, Devine Lunga, Moses Jackson, Brian Juru, Canaan Nkomo, Clemence Matawu(Lawe 79 mins), Thomas Chimenya(Dube 70 mins) George Majika, Lawrence Mhlanga, Thabani Goredema(Bushiri 90+1 mins), Ben Nyahunzvi
Buffaloes: Blessing Mwandimutsira, Shepherd Nkata (Jeffrey 47 mins), Kelven Thembani, Philip Chandisaita, Prosper Matizanadzo, Tafadzwa Mombeshora, Jacob Muzokomba, Roy Mwenga(Philip Thembani 56 mins), Elton Dzumbunu, Malvern Fenyeka(Phiri 56 mins, Juwakinyu Kastigu
