The Sunday Mail
Don Makanyanga
Sports Reporter
Harare City…………..(2) 2
Herentals FC…………(0)1
WILLIAM MANONDO continued with his goal scoring prowess in the Chibuku Super Cup as he helped Harare City to record their first win of this year’s tournament at the National Sports Stadium yesterday.
Manondo, nicknamed “Mr Chibuku” due to his goal-scoring prowess in the competition, gave Harare City an early lead as he tapped in a Dinoleen Masukuta cross in the second minute to register his 28th goal of the tournament.
Clive Rupiya increased the Sunshine Boys’ lead on the brink of half-time when he came to the end of a Zvikomborero Bizeki cross from the right flank.
A strike by Tinotenda Benza 15 minutes from time ensured a frenetic end to the game as it gave Herentals hope of a late fight back.
It was literally a match of two halves which saw Harare City dominating the opening period before the Students seized the initiative in the second.
The Sunshine Boys were aggressive from the start, as witnessed by their high pressing game, which soon bore fruit when a long ball from their defence found Masukuta on the left flank just after the centre-line.
Masukuta did well to outpace the Herentals left back before sending in a high cross which was tapped home by Manondo.
The goal seemed to have unsettled the Herentals camp as they were forced onto the back foot and had to rely on counter attacks in search of an equaliser.
Their counter attacking game could have paid dividends 11 minutes into the match when Tafadzwa Chitutuku did well on the edge of the box only for his final delivery to miss the target by a few inches.
Harare City were then forced to make an injury-inspired substitution after goalkeeper Maxwell Mupanedengu pulled a muscle and was replaced by Kelvin Shangiwa in the 18th minute.
With little goalmouth action on the Harare City end, Shangiwa was first called to action in the 33rd minute when Blessing Majarira had a golden opportunity to level terms after being set up by his young brother Archmore.
But the Herentals captain found a stumbling block in the Harare City substitute goalkeeper.
On the other end Harare City made their dominance count when Bizeki broke loose on the right flank sending a low cross which Rupiya did well to control inside the box, before unleashing a powerful grounder that gave the Sunshine Boys the comfort going into the break.
Rupiya’s goal was to prove the winner as Herentals came back from the break on fire following some tactical changes by coach Kumbirai Mutiwekuziva.
Mutiwekuziva introduced three attack-minded players who pegged back Harare City and could have been rewarded when Prince Chama’s cross found an unmarked Blessing Majarira, but again the skipper saw his effort being denied by Shangiwa.
They continued to probe the Sunshine Boys until they got some due reward on 75 minutes when Benza capitalised on a blunder to slot home.
Despite his team’s win, City coach Lloyd Chitembwe was not happy with the manner they conceded their goal.
“I think the goal was a result of anxiety on the part of my players.
“It was a case of two halves but at the end of the day we give credit where it is due, the guys did well to protect the lead. Sometimes it is not about playing pretty football but getting the result and I am happy the guys managed to do that,” said Chitembwe.
Mutiwekuziva said the loss had left his side with a tough task to advance to the knockout stage.
“It is now worrisome, we do not want to lie. These are cup games. Having lost to CAPS United and now against Harare City, we now face an uphill task in our quest to make it to the next round,” he said.
