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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
Chicken Inn 1-2 Caps United

CHICKEN Inn’s title defence took a massive knock following their fourth defeat of the season when they fell to Caps United at Luveve Stadium yesterday.

They now trail leaders FC Platinum, who play How Mine at Luveve Stadium this afternoon, by nine points after eight games.

The defending Castle Lager Premier League champions have 10 points.

Caps United’s winger Brian Abbas Amidu fired a cracker that left Chicken Inn goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze rooted to give his side the lead in the 33rd minute after being fed by Phineas Bamusi.

Chicken Inn equalised two minutes later through Edmore Chirambadare whose grounder from the edge of the box beat a diving Caps United goalkeeper Jorum Muchambo.

The Harare side, who flew into Bulawayo yesterday morning for the match, scored their second goal which won them the match four minutes into the second half through Leonard Tsipa’s diving header. Again, Bamusi provided the assist.

Caps United’s coach Lloyd Chitembwe was happy with the performance of his players but downplayed their championship hopes.

“Offensively we looked good and defensively we maintained our shape. It was a good team performance. About the championship, I think it’s premature to talk about that because the league is a marathon. We appreciate that the fans feel that we’re better placed for the championship but from a coach’s perspective our focus is on collecting as many points as possible,” said Chitembwe.

Caps United became the fourth team to beat the champions whose other defeats were against ZPC Kariba (1-0), Bulawayo City (1-0) and Triangle United who beat them 2-1.

The 1-2 loss to Caps United left Chicken Inn still searching for their first victory of the season at Luveve Stadium where they have played four times with the best result being a 0-0 draw against How Mine on Week Three. They lost to City, Triangle and Caps United at Luveve.

Chicken Inn’s three victories were a 3-0 home win on Week One against Dynamos played at Barbourfields Stadium followed by the 1-0 triumph over Border Strikers at Maglas and last weekend’s 3-1 win at Sakubva against Mutare City.

Going into yesterday’s game, Chicken Inn were hoping to build from the victory they had in Mutare but found Caps United fired up.

Caps United’s victory pushed them from position three to two and now have 17 points, two behind leaders FC Platinum who are in action this afternoon.

The visitors survived an early scare when Tafadzwa Kutinyu’s third minute dipping shot brought the best save out of Muchambo who tipped the ball for a corner.

After that, Caps United settled with defensive midfielder Kudzai Nyamupfukudza covering for his defence and thwarting most Chicken Inn’s buildups from midfield.

Caps looked dangerous whenever they were attacking and could have shot into the lead just after the half-hour mark when Dominic Chungwa’s flashing header off a Ronald Pfumbidzai freekick was punched away by Chipezeze.

Tsipa also had his 45th minute header going over the bar.

The veteran Caps United forward made up for the earlier miss by scoring Caps United’s goal in the 49th minute.

Two minutes later, Chirambadare shot wide after being fed by Obidiah Tarumbwa.

Chicken Inn had a 65th minute penalty appeal turned down by referee Thabani Bhamala. Caps United’s defender Stephen Makatuka handled in the box but the referee waved play-on.

With the visitors enjoying dominance in midfield led by Joel Ngodzo and Amidu, Chicken Inn players lost hope of coming back with their body language showing that they had surrendered.

It looked as if they wanted the match to end as Caps United kept pressing but could not breach Chicken Inn’s central defence pair of Teenage Hadebe and Lawrence Mhlanga.

After the game, Chicken Inn’s coach Rahman Gumbo, stunned by the defeat, failed to attend the post match press conference as he held a meeting with his assistants by the pitch side.

Teams

Chicken Inn: Elvis Chipezeze, Passmore Bernard, Divine Lunga, Teenage Hadebe, Lawrence Mhlanga, Danny Phiri, Tafadzwa Kutinyu, Clemence Matawu, George Majika (Obidiah Tarumbwa, 46th minute), Mitchelle Katsvairo (Moses Demera, 68th minute)

Unused substitutes: Pride Zendera, Ben Nyahunzwi, Moses Jackson, Thabani Goredema, Physiwell Madhazi

Caps United: Jorum Muchambo, Valentine Musarurwa (Zvikomborero Biseki, 77th minute), Ronald Pfumbidzai, Dennis Dauda, Stephen Makatuka, Kudzai Myamupfukudza, Joel Ngodzo, Brian Abbas Amidu, Dominic Chungwa, Leonard Tsipa (Method Mwanjali, 85th minute)

Unused substitutes: Criss Mverechena, Cabby Kamhapa, Amon Kambanje, Carlton Munzabwa, Justice Jangano

Results

Yesterday: Bulawayo City 1-0 Ngezi Platinum Stars, ZPC Kariba 1-0 Hwange, Border Strikers 1-0 Tsholotsho FC, Chicken Inn 1-2 Caps United, Triangle United 3-1 Mutare City Rovers

Fixtures

Today: How Mine v FC Platinum (Luveve)

Tomorrow: Harare City v Chapungu (Rufaro, SuperSport, 3PM)

Saturday: Dynamos v Highlanders (Rufaro, SuperSport, 3PM)