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Tonderai Ndiraya

Paul Mundandi in Triangle
Triangle 1 – 0 Ngezi Platinum TRIANGLE maintained their fine run at home to shock Ngezi Platinum Stars in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Gibbo Stadium yesterday.

A 12th minute strike by the exciting Simba Makoni sealed maximum points for the hosts and also dislodged Ngezi from the top of the league table.

An intended back pass from defender Dominic Mukandi to his goalkeeper Nelson Chadya was intercepted by Makoni, who rounded the keeper and slotted the ball into an empty net.

Coach Taurai Mangwiro seems to have finally struck the right chord at the Lowveld side. After a false start since taking the job at the beginning of the season, he has also managed registered home victories over How Mine (2-0), Shabanie (3-1) and ZPC Kariba (1-0).

Mangwiro only lost one match at home, 0-1 to Chicken Inn.

Despite the win yesterday, the Sugar-Sugar boys still felt hard done by first assistant referee Wurayayi Muroiwa, who disallowed an effort a goal by Lameck Nhamo in the 73rd minute for offside.

Nelson Meson won the ball deep inside the Ngezi half and made a solo run on the left side before sending a cross that was headed into the nets by Nhamo, but Muroiwa surprisingly flagged him.

Ngezi keeper Chadya did well to keep the score line respectable when he blocked a scorcher from Dzingai Chirambamurivo for a corner in the 30th minute.

Ngezi did not play their normal game and were jittery in the first half, and they were always second on the ball.

They improved in the second half, but still failed to convert chances that came their way, with Criss Mverechena outstanding in goals for the Lowveld side.

Ngezi’s play was also affected by injuries to dribbling wizard Donald Teguru and Tatenda Mchisa when they were already a goal down and this forced coach Tonderayi Ndiraya to change his game plan.

Triangle goalkeepers’ coach Innocent Chogugudza was an elated man after the match.

“It was a good result for us. We badly needed the three points to increase our tally. I am happy we played well and created a number of chances. We imposed ourselves and I hope our players will keep aiming high. We are also happy with the support we are getting from the fans and management,” said Chogugudza.

Ndiraya was a disappointed. “It was a disappointing show from my players. We had a very poor first half and the reaction was very poor. I am not very happy with the way we played during the first half of the season besides being on top of the log. We failed to convert our chances and we were not good physically and it was probably due to the fact that we endured 10 hours of traveling and the effects were showing yesterday.

“The injury inspired substitutions also made it worse for us, but the good thing is that we are still on top of the log. Each time we fail to pick up points, the teams below us always fail to capitalise,” said Ndiraya.

Teams

Triangle: C Mverechena, D Phiri, N Meson, K Chigwida, G Zhokinyu, R Kawondera, D Chirambamurivo, M Ngwenya (B Chimwamuchere 55th min), L Nhamo, S Makoni (C Denias 60th min), B Maglasi

Ngezi: N Chadya, Q Amin, D Tavari, T Mchisa (K Machona 46th min), K Bulaji, T Mabvura, D Mukandi, K Murera, D Teguru (M Kwinjo 46th min), X Moyo (C Augusto 60th min), G Murwira