Simba Bhora fail to end MWOS’ unbeaten run

By Henry Mhara | 9h ago

The former CAPS United striker had a chance to snatch all the three points for the defending champions with his first touch of the ball on 86 minutes after he latched to a deflected header from a MWOS defender, but could not stretch enough to turn the ball into an empty net.

Simba Bhora . . . . . . . . . 0

MWOS . . . . . . . . . . . 0

Substitute William Manondo missed a glorious late chance as Simba Bhora failed to end MWOS’ unbeaten start to the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season in a top of the table clash at Wadzanayi Stadium.

After a fairytale start to their season in their maiden season, Lloyd Mutasa’s men were hoping to further assert their title credentials at the home of the champions.

This top of the table clash was billed as a potential thriller between two sides who have set the pace early on in the league.

It was not to be. This was a cagey and tame affair, with very few clear cut chances created at both ends

The home side looked to have the visitors under siege in a blistering opening minutes of the match, but Mutasa's men settled, limiting the hosts to few chances.

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Emmanuel Ziocha’s snap shot and Isaskar Gurirab's effort was the closest the Joel Luphahla's coached side came to scoring in the first half.

At the other end, Claude Mapoka glanced a free header wide in the opening half.

The two sides traded blows in the second half, but their clinical final touch evaded them.

Luphahla threw Manondo into the game on 85th minute to try and unlock the MWOS defence and the striker was almost an in instant hero when he latched on to a deflected header, but couldn't direct his sliding effort on target.

With the point, MWOS retained the top position on the log standings with 18 points, three clear of second placed Simba Bhora after eight rounds of matches.

Luphahla and Mutasa were both left satisfied with a share of spoils.

"We knew that it was going to be a difficult game, looking at how MWOS has been performing," said Luphahla, who missed his key player Junior Makunike yesterday due to a family bereavement.

"They are on top of the log, not by a fluke, but you can see they work very hard. We came up against a good team that is high with confidence, but we were at home, I would have expected my boys to get the full three points. But with a clean sheet and a point, we can't complain that much. It's a game that we could have won, it's a game that they could have won. So it was a balanced affair at the end of the day. A point, I think it's fair for both teams."

Mutasa said: "We came here knowing that it's going to be a tough encounter as well, playing against the defending champions. And getting a point here and not conceding a goal again, I think we can take the point home and re-strategise."

The two teams now turn their focus to midweek games with MWOS hosting Manica Diamonds in Norton while Simba Bhora travel to Kwekwe United.

Simba Bhora: W Thole, I Mauchi, W Tafa, B Moyo, C Mavhurume (W Manondo, 85'), B Ndereki (D Mudadi, 54'), B Ncube, E Ziocha (N Tigere, 75'), T Meke (C Makambira, 75'), I Gurirab, R Kangadzi

MWOS: M Mapisa, T Nyabunze, V Katsande, I Zambezi, G Saunyama (C Kwangwari, 30'), T George (A Banda, 72'), T Mutyambizi, M Mudzuka, B Veremu, C Mapoka (M Salif, 82'), N Matinha (W Mensah, 72').