The Sunday Mail
Mehluli Sibanda in BULAWAYO
Chicken Inn……………… (1) 2
Bantu Rovers…………….. (1) 1
CHICKEN INN recovered from conceding a goal inside 47 seconds to condemn their neighbours to their 14th defeat of the season in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Hartsfield Rugby Ground yesterday.
Goals from skipper Danny Phiri and George Majika cancelled out Lenience Mpofu’s early strike for Tshintsha Guluva.
The goals gave Chicken Inn their ninth win of the season and took their points tally to 33.
It was sweet revenge for Chicken who lost the reverse fixture between the two teams at Luveve Stadium in May by the same score line.
Bantu Rovers took the lead with just 47 seconds played, Mpofu striking a beautiful curler which beat a fully stretched out Elvis Chipezeze.
As Chicken Inn started moving forward, seasoned midfielder Clemence Matawu went past the challenge of Herbert Dick and Zephaniah Ngodzo but could not seal the move with a goal.
The hosts were jittery at the back with Dick almost making it two for Bantu Rovers with 16 minutes played but the veteran defender was blocked before he could pull the trigger.
A lovely move involving Ishmael Lawe saw Thabani Goredema release Matawu on the right but the former Motor Action man’s shot was not powerful enough to trouble Takunda Mutanga in the 36th minute.
However, Matawu won the free kick which saw Phiri restoring parity.
Youngster Bukhosi Sibanda came close to restoring the lead for Bantu Rovers just before the break when he opened fire with his left foot but saw his effort brilliantly saved by Chipezeze who pushed the ball out for a corner.
Majika gave Chicken Inn the lead six minutes into the second half, slamming the ball into the nets from inside the box after some loose defending by Bantu Rovers.
Matawu could have killed the game as a contest when he latched onto a long clearance but Mutanga was equal to the task, using his legs to block his effort in the 69th minute.
Teams:
Chicken Inn: Elvis Chipezeze, Moses Jackson, Brian Mbiriri, John Bernard (Ben Nyahunzvi 65 minutes , Lawrence Mhlanga, George Majika, Danny Phiri, Clemence Matawu(Brian Juru 83 minutes), Bhekimpilo Ncube(Canaan Nkomo 77 minutes), Thabani Goredema, Ismael Lawe
Bantu Rovers: Takunda Mutanga, Zephaniah Ngodzo, Herbert Dick, Master Mlangeni, Teenage Hadebe, Nqobizitha Masuku, Tafadzwa Kutinyu(Tafadzwa Ngwena 46 minutes) , Fortune Ncube(Dalubuhle Moraka 62 minutes, Emmanuel Dube(Sizalobuhle Dube 79 minutes), Leanance Mpofu, Bukhosi Sibanda
