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Sunday Chidzambwa

Dennis Kagonye in Kariba

ZPC Kriba 1 – Hwange
NEVER Tigere scored a spectacular free-kick to help ZPC Kariba to snatch full points against a stubborn Hwange and moved them into third place in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League table at Nyamhunga yesterday.

Tigere, who was brought in as a second half substitute, ensured that the home team continued with their fine start to the season when he took the responsibility in the 71st minute after they had been awarded a free-kick just outside the box.

However, ZPC Kariba, who are enjoying their game early in the season, should have won this game by a wider margin had they not missed a lot of chances that came their way in the first half.

The Sunday Chidzambwa-coached side should have surged ahead as early as in the fourth minute when veteran striker Limited Chikafa found space inside the opposition’s half and unleashed a ferocious grounder which was saved by Hwange’s goalkeeper Future Sibanda.

Chikafa had another shot cleared off the line by David Boriwondo in the 24th minute after receiving a tantalising cross from Talent Chawapihwa.

The two teams kept on exchanging some counter raids but could not yield anything to end the first half evenly balanced.

Hwange failed to trouble their former goalkeeper Tafadzwa Mawaya who was in goals for ZPC Kariba as they could not make meaningful moves in the hosts’ territory.

The home side introduced the in-form Tigere and Tineyi Chitora in the 47th minute for the injured Elvis Meleka and Godknows Mangani, who enabled ZPC Kariba to penetrate the Hwange defence led by David Boriwondo.

The two substitutes troubled the visitors’ defence and out of desperation Njabulo Ndlovu brought down Chitora in the 71st minute. Tigere took the responsibility and fired a spectacular shot which hit the upright roof, beating Hwange’s goalminder Sibanda for the only goal of the match.

After the math ZPC Kariba’s coach Chidzambwa said: “It’s a hard won three points as Hwange’s backline was hard to penetrate in the first half.”
ZPC Kariba’s win enabled them to climb into third position with 15 points, four behind log leaders FC Platinum who play How Mine at Luveve this afternoon.

Hwange’s coach Mebelo Njekwa blamed his defenders for failing to deal with the set-piece that led to the home’s side’s goal.