BY HENRY MHARA IN TRIANGLE
Triangle . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 1
Black RHINOS . . . . . . . . . . 0 Triangle returned to winning ways after beating visiting Black Rhinos in a charged match at Gibbo Stadium in Triangle yesterday.
A scuffle between the two benches during warm-up left Rhinos coach Hebert Maruwa with a swollen eye.
Accusations of encroaching into each other’s half were raised and the incident threatened the start of the match.
Maruwa played down the pre-match incident.
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“It was just a misunderstanding, but we resolved it and even managed to talk with the other bench after the incident and also after the match. It’s part of the game,” he said.
Police details had to move in to calm down the situation and after consultations with match commissioner Makonese Masakadza, the game was allowed to start.
Russel Madamombe converted from a penalty two minutes after the break for his sixth goal of the season, to give the home side their first win in seven matches.
Triangle coach Jairos Tapera was a relieved man following the win which took his side to fifth position on the log standings with 34 points, 13 behind log leaders FC Platinum.
“It was a difficult game,” Tapera conceded.
“I can say the first half was better for us because we were moving the ball around. We could string some passes around, but after we scored the goal, it became very difficult because the opponent threw everything at us, but my boys managed to weather the storm. They took all the pressure and eventually we managed to get the three points that we wanted.
“Remember, this is our first win in the second round of matches, so I’m very happy.”
The defeat left Rhinos on 31 points.
“It was a tough match. They got a penalty and we tried to come back, but it was always difficult when you are playing a team away from home. Basically, we need to go back to the drawing board and make sure we rectify the mistakes that we made. We have to go back and prepare ourselves for the next game,” Rhinos coach Maruwa said.
Triangle settled first in the match as they threatened to run over their opponent. Striker Donald Ngoma was thwarted by Rhinos goalkeeper Blessing Mwandimutsira from point blank early on before Tinashe Kabanda hit the cross bar with a rising shot on 15th minute.
Chances continued to fall for the home side in the first half, but they took turns to miss them.
Rhinos’ first chance arrived in the 38th minute when Eli Ilunga set up Tawanda Nyamandwe, but the veteran striker’s feeble shot went straight at keeper Godfrey Chitsumba.
The breakthrough finally arrived minutes into the second half when Mwandimutsira hacked down Emmaculate Mawuna inside the box and referee Washington Chari rightly pointed to the spot.
Madamombe easily converted with a rising shot. Dombo nearly increased the lead moments later when he was sent clear, but his curling effort missed the target by inches.
Rhinos looked to respond immediately, but were denied a way back by goalkeeper Chitsumba, who tipped over a Steady Mudzengere shot.
Rhinos were given a chance to come back into the match when they were awarded a freekick inside the box but they could not make the most of it. Christopher Brighton almost rescued a point for Rhinos right at the death, but was denied by the cross bar.
Teams
Triangle: G Chitsumba, J Mukombwe, T Musariri, T Chisi, K Gwao, T Kabanda, E Karembo, R Madamombe (A Chiveya, 85’), E Mawuna (M Ngwenya, 68’), D Ngoma, G Bero
Black Rhinos: B Mwandimutsira, S Mudzengere, D Dauda, G Madhake, C Kwaramba, P Makaha (E Feremba, 65’), A Phiri, B Christopher, V Mhandu (G Mleya, 2’, S Murove, 68’), E Ilunga (K Madera, 65’,) T Nyamandwe (P Gweva, 68’)
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