CAPS UNITED . . . . . . . . (0) 1
NGEZI PLATINUM STARS . . (3) 3
NGEZI Platinum Stars warmed up to their Chibuku Super Cup final match against Dynamos this weekend with a morale-boosting victory over Caps United in the final game of the season at Rufaro Stadium yesterday.
Madamburo, who are facing De Mbare on Saturday in a repeat of last year's final, raced into a three-nil lead at halftime.
Talent Chamboko opened the scoring two minutes into the match from inside the box before Never Tigere curled in a beautiful freekick from outside the box to double the visitors’ advantage on 14th minute.
A Malvin Gaki tap in from close range on 35th minute, connecting with a Takunda Benhura cross, completed a dominant first-half display by the Takesure Chiragwi-coached side.
Kingsley Mureremba pulled one back for Caps United a minute into the second half as Caps United started the second stanza with much verve and threatening a fightback, but the outgoing league champions held on for a win.
Both teams had chances to score more goals in this match which was played at a good tempo.
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With a third-place finish secured for Ngezi Platinum Stars before kickoff, this match was all about preparation for the Chibuku Super Cup final, and Chiragwi was left satisfied with what he saw ahead of the big clash scheduled for Rufaro.
"Besides being a preparation for Chibuku Super Cup final, it was also good for us as the defending champions to finish the season on a high" Chiragwi said. "It's good for a team that won the league to make sure that we finish strongly and play for the pride of the club. To end the season in style like this, we are more than happy to be honest.
“The final against Dynamos is one important match that we need to make sure that we overcome. We expect a very good game and if we win, we are back in the African Safari.
“That is how important the game is. Dynamos also want to go back to the African Safari so it's not going to be easy but we are ready. We are in the final for a reason and we know what we are capable of. If we want to be victorious, we will have to be very strong because Dynamos is not a walk in the park. They have a good squad and also want to win the trophy."
The winner of the Chibuku Super Cup final will represent the country in the CAF Confederations Cup tournament next season.
Yesterday's defeat means Caps United finish the season ninth on the log standings with 45 points, worse off than last season when they finished eighth with 46 points.
Their coach Lloyd Chitembwe, who bizarrely shunned his place in the technical area for the VVIP area in the first half, before returning to the dugout for the second half, blamed his side for giving away goals.
"We lost it in the first half. We conceded some goals that I honestly feel we could have managed those situations much better. We were letting their forwards peel off us, drop a bit in midfield to receive the ball, and run behind us. They were always going to have an advantage over us because they were much quicker so we could not manage those kinds of situations. Those were purely tactical mistakes and it could have been avoided. If only we had managed to avoid those situations, I'm sure it was a good game of football for the neutrals."
CAPS United: T Mateyaunga, T Matindife (A Saeed, 80'), I Zambezi, B Kangwa, H Chapusha, K Mureremba, P Bamusi, G Murwira, W Manondo (L Chiwunga, 65'), R Chinyengetere, J Bakari
Ngezi Platinum Stars: N Chadya, M Gaki (C Mapoka, 57'), A Ngwenya (C Mavhurume, 57'), R Hachiro, M Hativagoni, P Moyo, T Chamboko (T Munemo, 46'), T Benhura (M Demera, 78'), M Mukumba, G Madhake, N Tigere (M Mweha, 78')
