CAPS UNITED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
HERENTALS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(0) 1
Lloyd Chitembwe was left frustrated by Caps United's wastefulness in front of goal as they fell to Herentals College at Rufaro Stadium yesterday.
The Green Machine came short against the Students, with Godfrey Mukambi putting them to the sword with a 62nd-minute goal after a mistake by goalkeeper Tonderai Mateyaunga.
The Harare giants created numerous scoring opportunities, but were undone by their wastefulness and some fine defending from the Herentals backline every time they attacked.
Rodwell Chinyengetere hit the woodwork three times in the last 15 minutes of the game, as a goal became stubbornly elusive for the home side.
Chitembwe cut a forlorn figure at the end of the match and went on to give a post match analysis, in which he used very short and sometimes one word answers to each and every question that was posed to him by the media.
Asked to summarise the game, Chitembwe said: “Naturally disappointing.”
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When pressed to explain further, he added: “The application from the boys was decent, hence we had more opportunities than our opponents.”
The defeat left Caps United on 10th position with 23 points, while Herentals moved up to seventh with 27 points.
Herentals coach Celistino Benza was pleased with the victory, a sweet revenge for them having lost 2-0 in the reverse fixture.
“I'm very pleased; we lost to Caps United in the first leg and winning this game at their home ground is pleasing. It was time for us to avenge the first leg defeat. I'm happy to beat Caps United because they are not a small team. They have experienced players and experienced coaches so we are happy overall to get the three points.”
Benza explained how he managed to turn things in the second half, after his side somehow survived a tough first half.
"It was us trying to manage Junior Bunjira because he had a very good game in the first half. We closed the channels and he couldn't go down the line and it worked for us."
William Manondo, Bunjira and Phineas Bamusi all missed huge chances to put Caps United ahead in a dominant first half performance by Chitembwe's men.
There was a sense that all of the missed opportunities would come back to haunt Makepekepe and that's exactly what happened when Mukambi bundled home after Mateyaunga had dropped his catch from a corner. It could very well have been 2-0 when John Zhuwawu recycled an Eric Dombo cross on to the path of substitute Blessing Majarira, who headed over from point blank range.
Chinyengetere then came close to finding an equaliser from a free kick which was pushed onto the upright by Herentals goalkeeper Takudzwa Chikosi on 75th minute. Eric Manokore failed to turn the ball home on the follow-up.
A minute later, Chinyengetere's shot from inside the box also hit the bar and moments later, the former Soccer Star of the Year watched in agony as his shot once again hit the same post in almost similar fashion.
Caps United pushed hard in the dying minutes of the game in search of an equaliser, but could not find a way through Herental's stubborn rearguard, succumbing to their eighth league defeat of the season.
Teams
Caps United: T Mateyaunga, G Murwira, E Manokore, H Chapusha, B Kangwa, K Mureremba, P Bamusi (W Makuva, 59'), J Bunjira (I Nyoni, 73'), R Chinyengetere, L Chiwunga (J Bakari, 59'), W Manondo (B Sarupinda, 66').
Herentals: T Chikosi, Z Ruguchu, B Majarira, G Mukambi, C Nyatondo, B Phiri, M Mukiwa (E Dombo, 66'), B Kagudu, J Zhuwawo (A Maliselo, 82'), I Benza (C Zimondi, 46'), G Kufandada (B Majarira, 60').
Castle Lager Premier League results
Highlanders 2-0 Bulawayo Chiefs
Hwange 0-1 Dynamos
CAPS United 0-1 Herentals
Manica Diamonds 0-0 TelOne
