BY FORTUNE MBELE
CHICKEN INN . . . . . . . . . . (2) 2
BULAWAYO CHIEFS . . . . . (0) 1
CHICKEN Inn put on a solid display to hand Bulawayo Chiefs their first defeat of the season in an exciting Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match played at Luveve Stadium yesterday.
Brian Muza took advantage of a Chiefs defensive gaffe as early as the 13th minute, to put Chicken Inn in the lead before Shepard Mhlanga doubled the lead with a well taken left-footer from inside the penalty box in the 21st minute.
Chiefs’ substitute Sipho Ndlovu got their facesaver in the 57th minute with a beautifully taken free-kick from outside the box.
The Ninjas had started off well with a high pressing game, but Muza’s goal deflated them, with their defence caught in sixes and sevens on a number of occasions.
Chiefs’ Hughe Chikosa missed a sitter in the fourth minute as The Ninjas mounted pressure on Chicken Inn in the early stages of the game.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
He had been set up by former Chicken Inn striker Obriel Chirinda, who could have done the job himself, but opted for Chikosa.
Richard Hachiro then unleashed a cracker three minutes later for the GameCocks, but his effort was blocked and from the resultant corner-kick, Moses Jackson’s header was cleared off the goal-line.
The second half belonged to Bulawayo Chiefs, who dominated after bringing in Ndlovu, but could not get the elusive goal with another substitute Billy Vheremu also missing a sitter in the dying minutes, their only chance to square up the state of affairs.
Chicken Inn assistant coach Prince Matore said the win was good for the team as they head for Dynamos in their next game.
“It’s good for the team. We have worked hard for this and we will keep on working hard. If you fight hard you collect maximum points. We are having tough games as we play Dynamos next and this is good for the team,” Matore said.
His counterpart Nilton Terrosso conceded defeat.
“To be honest it was a good game. We started off well and we had a great opportunity, but we missed. We changed and rectified what was wrong and we dominated the second half, but Chicken Inn played well. Congratulations to them. We learn from this and move on,” Terrosso said.
TEAMS
Chicken Inn: D Benard, R Hachiro, M Charamba (P Bernard 70′), N Ketala, M Jackson, S Mhlanga, I Mabhunu, X Ndlovu (M Gaki 86′), B Amidu, B Muza (B Ncube 70′), M Hwata (G Majika 86′)
D Bizabani, I Nekati, E Moyo, K Madzongwe, H Chikosa, L Ndlela (S Ndlovu 46′), O Chirinda (W Mensah 83′) M Mkolo, M Msebe (F Matare 83′) K Moyo, P Chikwende
Castle Lager Premiership Results and Fixtures
Saturday: FC Platinum 0-0 Dynamos, Chicken Inn 2-1 Bulawayo Chiefs, Yadah 0-0 Black Rhinos
Sunday: Highlanders v WhaWha (Barbourfields), Herentals v Manica Diamonds (National Sports Stadium), Cranborne Bullets v ZPC Kariba (Baobab), Tenax v Bulawayo City (Sakubva), Triangle v Harare City (Gibbo)
Monday: CAPS United v Ngezi Platinum (National Sports Stadium)
