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Tobias Mandoreba Hwange Correspondent
Hwange 0-0 Triangle
(Triangle won 4-3 after a penalty shootout)THE sugar cane growers returned to the Lowveld celebrating after they bundled out the coal miners out of the Chibuku Super Cup after a penalty shootout after the two teams had played out a goalless draw in regulation time in a first round encounter at the Colliery Stadium yesterday.

The hosts went home with tears having learnt the hard way that you need to convert chances that come your way in order to prevail in any football match.

In the shootout, the writing was on the wall very early as Hwange missed two consecutive penalty kicks which were saved by hero of the day Ronald Mudimu who dived to his right to save efforts from Farai Vimisai and Tonisani Sibelo who took the first and second kicks respectively.

While Hwange were having a nightmare, goalkeeper Mudimu and Blessing Chimwamuchere slotted in the first two kicks for Triangle.

Alec Marime gave Hwange hope by banging in the third spot kick with veteran goalkeeper Timothy Sibanda giving Hwange a glimmer of hope saving Tatenda Tsuro’s effort to leave the scores at 2-1.

Both Andrew Tshuma and captain Gerald Ndlovu then scored the remaining spotkicks for the miners but Tichaona Chipunza and Nelson Menson were also spot on to leave the visitors on cloud nine after the match with a 4-3 victory.

Away from the spotkicks Triangle had better exchanges in the opening stanza while Hwange should have used their second half dominance to drain all the syrup from the sugar cane only to be let down by poor finishing.

Triangle got the first chance at goal in the fourth minute but they watched in utter disbelief as defender Sibelo ghosted in from nowhere to clear a goal bound Charles Rukwanhi header off the line with Timothy Sibanda badly positioned.

Rukwanhi came back with more venom in the eighth minute when he unleashed a powerful freekick which was pushed out for a corner kick by a stretched Sibanda.

The home side made their intentions known on the quarter hour mark when impressive Talent Chamboko roasted defenders William Mapfumo and Jimmy Dzingai at the edge of the box only for Menson to hook his curling and defence splitting cross to safety before a well-positioned Gilbert Zulu could stab home from close range.

The match then became a balanced affair until the half hour mark when Sibelo latched on to a lovely Vimisai cross before unleashing a dipping volley which flew past the left upright with Mudimu diving in vain.

Hwange took control of the proceedings in the last half but finishing let them down.

The match then livened up with stocky attacking midfielder Lameck Nhamo and substitute Felix Kuswatuka driving the Triangle forays into Hwange’s half while Chamboko, Vimisai and Marime continued to harass the visitors’ defence.

Hwange goalkeepers’ coach Chenjerayi Dube lamented the chances that went begging especially in the last half.

“We were punished for failing to convert the chances we got. Penalty kicks are lottery there is nothing you can do about that. We need to soldier on that is football,” he said.

Biggie Zuze was jubilant after the match.

“We came here with a game plan and it worked well and we were aware that if we go to the spot kicks we would prevail as we did in the Net One Charity Shield against Harare City,” said a smiling Zuze.

Teams

Hwange: T Sibanda, T Sibelo, M Mungadze, G Ndlovu, D Boriwondo, A Tshuma, F Vimisai, TChamboko, R Chinyengetere (P Mpelele 83th minute), G Zulu ( I Masame 76th minute), A Marime

Triangle: R Mudimu, C Rukwanhi, N Menson, W Mapfumo, J Dzingai, C Ngondonga, T Chipunza, B Maziwisa (W Gondo 80th minute), L Nhamo, T Chitora (F Kuswatuka 40th minute)