CHICKEN INN . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2) 4
ZPC KARIBA . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
CHICKEN Inn remembered how to win as they clobbered visiting ZPC Kariba in an exciting Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Luveve Stadium yesterday.
The hosts rose from the ashes of a poor start to the game to score in the 20th minute through Michael Charamba after ZPC Kariba goalkeeper Tapiwa Chilenga made an erroneous pass.
Charamba intercepted the pass and rifled past the off-guard Chilenga.
Eight minutes later, Malvin Hwata doubled the lead for The GameCocks taking advantage of a deflection from a ZPC Kariba defender off a Brian Muza shot, to beat the outstretched Chilenga.
Chicken Inn's confidence shot up after the two goals and on the half-hour mark, Charamba was at it again with a thunderbolt but Chilenga was equal to the task.
They continued to push and probe looking to put the game well beyond their relegation-haunted opponents.
- Inside Sport: Local stadiums in urgent need of attention
- Bullets ease relegation fears
- FC Platinum move six points clear
- Clinical Herentals leapfrog Ngezi to sixth
Keep Reading
Nine minutes before the final whistle, central defender Itai Mabunu scored the third for Chicken Inn with a beautiful header from substitute George Majika's corner-kick.
Substitute Brighton Ncube put the icing on the cake for Chicken Inn, striking from a rebound after Chilenga punched back into play a Genious Mtungamiri shot.
Before yesterday’s game, The GameCocks had lost to Ngezi Platinum following a series of draws.
Their last victory before yesterday’s was on September 3 when they beat Highlanders at Barbourfields Stadium.
Coach Prince Matore said his team had just discovered the killer punch.
“I am happy we converted our opportunities to goals today. All along we have been creating and not converting and we scored the four goals. I have been encouraging my players because all along we have been doing very well going into the positions, but the composure was not there. What is important is for them to keep working hard,” Matore said.
ZPC Kariba coach Luke Masomere said their win over FC Platinum at the weekend drained his boys.
“This is one game that we started very well but unfortunately we conceded very stupid goals from defensive blunders. My game was to score first but it did not happen that way and we were punished. The high-intensity game we had really drained my boys. When we played FC Platinum, it was high intensity and today we did not play our normal game. Chicken Inn could have scored more goals. Our goalkeeper played very well, he was the man of the match even after conceding four goals,” Masomere said.
ZPC Kariba had issued an early warning in the fifth minute, when Raphael Manuvire beat Chicken Inn goalkeeper Donovan Bernardl but his effort was cleared off the line by Nielson Ketala.
The power utility side continued to harass a shaky Chicken Inn and Johane Sibanda broke loose in the 12th minute inside the box and unleashed a stinger which narrowly missed the target.
Teams
Chicken Inn: D Bernard, M Hwata (B Ncube 80'), M Charamba, M Bhebhe, R Hachiro, N Ketala, T Kutinyu (D Jaricha 80'), I Mabunu, S Mhlanga ( Mtungamiri 86'), X Ndlovu, B Muza (G Majika 72')
ZPC Kariba: T Chilenga, B Mutukure, I Nekati, J Sibanda (E Hondo 78'), M Diro, R Manuvire (S Makawa 46'), F Shoko, C Muleya, N Chipunza (F Dhemere 45'), T Pio, L Murape ( Karengesha 78')
