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Rahman Gumbo

Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter—
Chicken Inn 2-0 Triangle United
COACH Rahman Gumbo’s seemingly boastful declaration that Chicken Inn are Castle Lager Premiership title contenders and not pretenders seems to have been what the doctor ordered, as his boys continue to grind crucial results in their quest to reclaim the championship they won in 2015. A booming header by outstanding skipper Moses Jackson in the 22nd minute off the equally impressive Innocent Mucheneka corner kick thrust the Bulawayo side into the lead.

Mucheneka sealed victory for the Game Cocks from the penalty spot in the 55th minute to secure their 13th win of the season and remain within Gumbo’s dream of leading them to the championship podium at the end of the season.

“We are slowly itching closer to the championship and all we have to do is concentrate on winning our own games,” said Chicken Inn goalkeepers’ coach Julius Ndlovu after the match.

It was the home team, which asked the early questions and in the 10th minute Chris Samakweri delivered a high cross into the box that was met by Darrly Nyandoro, whose header was parried to safety by Triangle goalkeeper Ronald Mudimu.

A minute later, the big Nyandoro returned with a sliced header that beat Mudimu, but hit the upright.

However, there was no stopping the home side from surging ahead in the 22nd minute when Mucheneka spotted his skipper Jackson lurking on the blind side and delivered a weighted corner kick that Jackson nodded home.

Triangle attempted a quick response, but their frontline was starved of clean balls as Chicken Inn congested the midfield and Thabani Goredema ensured the supply line was choked.

The home team’s tactic to congest the midfield forced Triangle skipper Lameck Nhamo, who showed flashes of individual brilliance, to drop deep in search of the ball, but on the few occasions that he got possession, his move were quickly thwarted in the final third.

At the beginning of the second half, Triangle coach Taurayi Mangwiro introduced Tendai Huwa for Blessing Chimwamuchere and the move saw the Lowveld side probing the home side’s defence.

Triangle should to have drawn level in the 49th minute when Simba Makoni beat an ill conceived offside trap and came face-to-face with drawn out goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze.

While Makoni’s execution was good, precision deserted him and the lob went wide.

The Game Cocks went 2-0 up 10 minutes into the second half after the overlapping Passmore Bernard was hacked inside the box by Donald Dzvingai and referee Nduna Nkosana pointed to the spot. Mucheneka made no mistake from the set piece.

“They were there to punish us for failure to defend from set pieces. First from a corner kick and at a time when we thought we were regrouping, we gave away a penalty. I must say for the past four or five games, we have put up good shows, but today was not one of those days,” said Mangwiro.

Teams
Chicken Inn: Elvis Chipezeze, Passmore Bernard (Physwell Madhazi 75th min), Devine Lunga, Moses Jackson, Clemence Matawu (Kuda Gurure 80th min), Collins Dhuwa (Brian Juru 63rd min) , Chris Samakweri, Darrly Nyandoro, Innocent Mucheneka, Thabani Goredema, Ben Nyaunzwi

Triangle United: Ronald Mudimu, Brian Juwayeyi, Blessing Chimwamuchere (Tendai Huwa 46th min), Donald Dzvingai, Kudzai Chigwada, Guthrie Zhokinyu, Bekimpilo Short (Courage Dennias 55th min), Simba Makoni (Eriko Phiri 51st min), Russell Madamombe, Lameck Nhamo, Ralph Kawondera. — @skhumoyo2000