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Oscar Rusenga in Triangle
Triangle 1-0 ZPC Kariba
HARDLIFE Mavundi’s lone strike for Triangle ensured there was no winning start for veteran coach Sunday “Mhofu’’ Chidzambwa as he bounced back to the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League trenches at Gibbo yesterday.

Chidzambwa was taking charge of his first game since being cleared by Zifa from the Asiagate match-fixing saga which paved the way for his appointment as ZPC Kariba coach.

But hosts Triangle had other ideas with Mavundi’s 73rd minute goal spoiling the day for the former Warriors and Dynamos gaffer.

Yet it was Chidzambwa’s men who started the game stronger and with much promise as they looked better organised in defence.

Pride Tafirenyika could have easily scored for ZPC Kariba but he pushed his effort wide with only the goalkeeper to beat in the seventh minute.

Triangle got their first chance through Pasca Manhanga whose cross deceived ZPC goalkeeper Liberty Chirava only to bounce back into play off the post seven minutes later.

Triangle were caught on the break and Tawanda Nyamandwe unleashed a thunderous shot that forced Ashley Reyners to make a smart save using his feet to clear his lines in the 16th minute. Mavundi tested the visitors goalkeeper with a shot from well outside the box but his left footed strike was well saved by Chirava in the 29th minute.

Tafirenyika who was wasteful missed a glorious chance to head home from a perfectly weighted cross by Tsepo Rantokoane five minutes before the break.

Triangle had goalkeeper Reyners to thank for a clean sheet as the teams trooped off for the breather when he came off his line to clear off Nyamandwe who had been sent through by Raphael Manuvire.

Having been largely outplayed in the first half, Triangle took the game to the visitors and soon started to find openings in the ZPC defence.

They even had a penalty appeal ignored by referee Makonese Masakadza in the 47th minute when Sylvester Appiah appeared to have handled.

Manhanga’s rasping effort in the 54th minute forced Chirava to produce another smart save tipping the ball over the bar for a corner. Substitute Hillary Bakacheza had a free header straight to Chirava from six yards wasting a pinpoint cross from Young Warriors midfielder Marlvin Gaki in the 65th minute. Man of the match Reyners denied Nyamandwe on another one-on-one duel saving what could have been a crucial goal for the visitors in the 72nd minute.

Triangle responded and scored a minute later.

The hosts won a corner kick after a swift counter attack and scored from the set-piece, with Mavundi making life hard for captain Tawanda Munyanduri and his troops.

Despite the loss, Chidzambwa was happy with his team’s effort.

His Triangle counterpart Kelvin Kaindu was happy with the three points despite the goal margin and welcomed back Cabby Kamhapa who had been out for two months with a hand injury.

Teams

Triangle: A Reyners, P Tonha, N Meson, C Rukwanhi, E Mwinga, T Chipunza, P Manhanga, H Mavundi, M Gaki (C Ngondonga 87 minutes), N Lameck (C Kamhapa 69 minutes), F Kuswatuka (H Bakacheza 59 minutes)

ZPC Kariba: L Chirava, S Sheshe, D Phiri, S Appiah, D Dauda, T Magorimbo (M Makanje 62 minutes), T Munyanduri, R Manuvire (D Chakupe 77 minutes), T Nyamandwe, T Rantokoane (R Madamombe 63 minutes), P Tafirenyika