CAPS UNITED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
HWANGE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0
CAPS United moved closer to rekindling their former “Cup Kings” glory days after progressing to the quarter-finals of the coveted Chibuku Super Cup following a narrow win over Hwange in a rather drab match at Bata stadium yesterday.
Clive Rupiya scored the only goal of the match for the Green Machine as they earned a much needed win after two consecutive defeats in the league.
Caps United gaffer Llyod Chitembwe heaved a huge sigh of relief despite that his men were not at their best.
“It was a very difficult game. We anticipated that it was going to be tough. But all the same, I am happy that we won.
“It is too early to talk about the next round but it is also important to take every game in this tournament seriously and work very hard to see how far we can go,” Chitembwe said.
Hwange started the match on the front foot and with a Pritchard Mpelele goal ruled out for off-side on the third minute.
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Caps United surged ahead after 10 minutes courtesy of Rupiya who headed home a delightful corner-kick whipped in by Godknows Murwira.
Five minutes later, Courage Sithole missed the target by inches with a rasping shot after receiving the ball from Joseph Thulani inside the box for the Green Machine.
Caps United slowed down the tempo choosing to let Hwange come at them, but often thwarting them before they went into dangerous areas.
Towards the halfway point, Hwange's Lukas Sibanda caught the ire of the Caps United faithfuls after he kicked one of the ball boys.
The second half started with Caps United jealously guarding their narrow lead.
But Ben Musaka saved the day for the Green Machine when he cleared a James Chivasa goal bound strike off the line.
Murwira almost doubled the scores with a powerful free kick from outside the box, but goalie Wellington Muuya was equal to the task, tipping the ball over the bar.
Hwange gaffer Nation Dube was dejected after the defeat.
“It was a game of two halves. In the first half, we didn't play anything, but we worked hard in the second half.
“We would have wanted to win, but this also gives us more time to focus on the upcoming league matches,” he said.
Teams
Caps United: A Rayners, G Murwira, I Zambezi, H Chapusha, P Musaka, J Tulani, B Sarupinda( J Ngodzo 66), T Daka, C Rupiya( W Manondo 75), R Chinyengetere( E Manokore 75), C Sithole
Hwange: W Muuya, J Mumpande, B Mlotshwa, R Maphosa( L Mutoma 83'), G Goriyati, R Goredema, S Sithole (T Muvuti 60), S Gahadzikwa, P Mpelele( J Chivasa 60), B Ngoma( M Mlilo 60), L Sibanda
