Harare City………. (1) 2 CAPS United…….. (0) 1
Harare football giants CAPS United’s nightmarish finish to the season continued yesterday as they were thrown out of the Chibuku Super Cup following a 2-1 semi-final defeat to Harare City at Rufaro Stadium.
BY GARISH PHIRI
In addition to failing to register a win in their last six matches in the league, going back to early September, the Green Machine have not scored a single goal in regulation time in the Chibuku Super Cup this year heading into yesterday’s encounter.
And while they eventually managed to score through Joel Ngodzo in the 86th minute, it was a little too late as Harare City advanced courtesy of a goal in each half through Moses Muchenje and William Manondo.
Harare City will now await the winner of the other semi-final pitting Dynamos and Triangle at the same venue today.
two-time Chibuku champions Harare City proved they are the most successful team in the history of the tournament since it was reintroduced in 2014 after powering ahead as early as the sixth minute through Muchenje.
The former CAPS United man banged a powerful shot past Makepekepe goalkeeper Chris Mverechena to finish off a brilliant counter-attacking move.
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Harare City’s early dominance forced CAPS United gaffer Lloyd Chitembwe into making a double substitution two minutes before the break introducing Hardlife Zvirekwi and Kelvin Ndebele in place of Cabby Kamhapa and Charlton Munzambwa respectively.
Although the changes appeared to yield the desired results, with CAPS United taking control of the game, it was 2-0 on 69 minutes thanks to Manondo who scored against the run of play as Makepekepe committed numbers forward in search of an equaliser.
CAPS United got a consolation goal in the 86th minute through Ngodzo, who caught Harare City’s defence napping to finish off a well-taken cross from Justice Jangano.
An elated Harare City coach Mark Harrison jumped and punched the air as the referee blew the final whistle.
“Yeah, I am absolutely delighted. I thought in the first half we were superb. We knew we had so much pace for them — their back four is not the quickest. It should have been three or four by half-time,” Harrison said.
“The second half was what it was. We knew they [CAPS United] had nothing to lose, they had everything to gain being a goal down. We knew they would attack, which they did. I thought we defended the box quite well until the last minute. With all due respect, once we got the second goal there was no coming back for them.”
Chitembwe, who cut a frustrated figure at the final whistle, did not attend the mandatory post-match press conference.
Teams:
Harare City: R Harrison, H Chapusha, T Chimwemwe, M Muchenje (T Pio, 85’), W Manondo, P Mpelele, L Muyambo (T Samanja, 67’), R Uchena, T Tumba, K Musharu, M Gaki (I Wadi, 60’)
CAPS United: C Mverechena, J Jangano, C Munzabwa (K Ndebele, 43’), S Makatuka, M Mwanjale, C Kamhapa (H Zvirekwi, 43’), K Nyamupfukudza, J Ngodzo, V Musarurwa, J Zhuwawu, M Ncube
