Caps United . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . (1)1
Cranborne Bullets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(1)1
HARARE giants CAPS United failed to replicate the form they have exhibited in recent weeks after they were held to a one-all draw by bottom side Cranborne Bullets at the National Sports Stadium yesterday.
Bullets, whose survival chances hang by the thread took the lead early in the match through Prince Mutasa before Joseph Tulani restored parity just before the break.
The result saw Caps United's three match winning run come to an end, but they should the buoyed by the fact that they have managed to put together a four-match unbeaten run.
However, performance by the Green Machine, especially in the first half, was particularly worrying.
Coach Lloyd Chitembwe felt fatigue from a hectic two-week schedule had caught up with his lads.
"It was a decent performance, but we saw it coming. We have had a very hectic fours week programme playing about five matches in a space of 13 days, including travelling. Imagine a trip to Hwange about 1 700 km, then Bulawayo in Chibuku Cup that's about 800km and then to Gweru to play Yadah which about 500 km," he said.
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"In between there is training, there is recovery and that in itself brings about a lot of load. Some of these things I noticed it was down to tiredness, but it's expected because this is the nature of the job and the players understand that," he added.
The point also lifted Makepekepe to eighth place with 37 points from 29 matches.
Cranborne Bullets, who recently parted ways with coach Nesbert Saruchera were by far the better side in the first half, while Caps United were a disjointed lot.
It was not a surprise when they took the lead with a beautifully worked goal after a quarter of an hour as wingback Xavier Janatana's cutback found Mutasa unmarked in the box.
Mutasa expertly side-footed the ball into the bottom corner leaving Ashley Rayners rooted to the spot to give Bullets the lead.
Clearly struggling to assert themselves, Makepekepe eventually found the equaliser against the run of play, two minutes before the break. Captain Tulani headed home a Phenias Bamusi looping cross from the left with probably their first shot on target.
William Manondo was unlucky not to give Caps United the lead in first half stoppage time, but failed to direct his header from Godknows Murwira cross.
Bullets had another chance to take the lead with about a quarter of an hour remaining, but Sylvester Munhira was thwarted by an alert Rayners inside the six yard box.
Bullets coach Samson Mavhenyengwa felt his team could have won the match.
"It was a good match that we failed to win. We didn't do much in defending’ we could have won 1-0, we also could have scored more goal. We are worried about our position on the log standings. We want to see if we can survive, but it's tough," he said.
One point did help Bullets much and their fate might be sealed if they fail to win the next match.
Teams
Caps United: A Rayners, E Manokore (J Ngodzo 46'), I Zambezi, H Chapusha, L Mangayira, D Chafa (B Musaka 63'), G Murwira, P Bamusi (T Daka 63'), J Tulani, R Chinyengetere (C Sithole 82'), W Manodo, (B Sarupinda 46')
Cranborne Bullets: V Jabangwe, X Janatana, P Mutasa (L Daka 62'), M Mushangwe, N Kupara, N Gurende (A Makuwerere 75'), M Mudzuka (Y Mutembedze 87), A Ngwena, S Munhira (E Zinyama 87), W Taderera (B Muzondiwa 62'), K Mureremba
