TELONE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
ARENEL MOVERS . . . . . . . . 0
(TelOne won 4-2 on penalties)
Chegutu Pirates . . . . . . . . (0)1
Hwange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0)1
(Chegutu Pirates won 5-4 on penalties)
TELONE and Chegutu Pirates progressed to the first round of the Chibuku Super Cup first round after their penalty shootout wins in their respective preliminary round matches played at Mandava Stadium yesterday.
Goalkeeper Criss Mverechena emerged the hero for TelOne in the 1pm kickoff game, saving two penalties after the match had finished goalless in regulation time.
- Wi-Fi Boys, Zaire progress to Chibuku first round
Keep Reading
Eriya Mafirenyika, Washington Navaya, Leo Hofisi and Allan Chapinduka converted their spotkicks for the Wi-Fi Boys, while Dalubuhle Dhlodhlo and Timothy January were on target for Chiefs, who had Brian Jaravaza and Andrew Thandi failing to convert.
TelOne’s reward for progressing through to the first round is a clash against FC Platinum.
Victorious coach Herbert Maruwa was elated with the win, although he maintains that his side’s main focus is trying to avoid premier league relegation.
“It was a very close game. We knew they were going to come hard on us and that we may need penalties. So we prepared for penalties,” Maruwa said.
“In fact, we have been preparing for penalties in the past few days. I’m happy with how my players applied themselves. Now we face FC Platinum next.
“Those are the kind of opponents that we need to face. They give us the energy, but we have to work hard, especially in the league.”
His counterpart Philani Ncube, whose side is also fighting relegation in the league, was naturally disappointed to crash out of the cup competition in the initial stage.
“It was unfortunate that we lost. We could have won this one, especially that we managed to contain them in the first half,” he said.
“We had better chances in the second half, but unfortunately, it was not to be. We move on the next assignments in the league.”
TelOne came into this one looking to make it two wins out of two over Arenel, having beaten them 2-1 in the league.
The Gweru-based side got their first chance of the match after 15 minutes when Frackson Bushiri picked Tafadzwa Sibanda with space on the edge of the box.
Sibanda’s volleyed effort, however, needed goalie Aaron Ngwenya to pull some cat-like reflex to deny TelOne the opening goal.
From then on, the two teams slowed down the tempo, with much of the action confined to the midfield, where Bushiri and Xolisani Moyo were gritty.
Bushiri got what was arguably TelOne’s best chance of the first half in the 43rd minute mark, but his shot was repelled by Ngwenya.
No meaningful chances were created in the second half.
There were goals in the second match of the day between Chegutu Pirates and Hwange, but the two could not be separated after 90 minutes, and the lottery of the penalty was needed to decide the winner.
Sipho Ndlovu scored Hwange’s goal in the 50th minute, which was cancelled out by Richard Kumi for Pirates just after the hour mark.
Despite the two teams creating good chances to win the match, they failed to make full use of the opportunities, and only penalty kicks could separate them.
And Chegutu Pirates were clinical, with Raphael Manuvire, Tafadzwa Jika, Tinotenda Ditima, Kumi and Gift Mwinga all converting, with well-taken penalties.
They will meet Manica Diamonds in the first round, scheduled for the weekend of 17 to 18 this month.
For Hwange, Mufaro Mutema was the fall guy after missing his penalty kick, while Gift Mbweti, Kelly Shiyandindi, Remmington Masuku and Pritchard Mphelele scored.
The win meant so much for Chegutu Pirates coach Day Gutu, who described it as “a consolation for his team’s struggles in the league”.
“I hope we can be able to pick this form in the league,” Gutu said.
“I’m happy that we managed to secure this win. The boys showed character after coming back from behind to snatch the win.”
His counterpart, Rodwell Dhlakama, whose team are bottom on the log in the league, cut a forlorn figure at the final whistle.
“It’s disappointing. Penalties are anyone’s game. We did everything we could, but it was not to be,” he said.
“I feel we could have sealed the win in normal time, but it’s unfortunate on our part. We now shift focus to the league, where we need to ensure survival.”
Chegutu Pirates made some exciting forays in the opening exchanges, with Hwange taking a more reserved approach, absorbing pressure from their opponents.
Veteran striker Dominic Chungwa got Hwange’s best chance of the day in the 43rd minute after he was picked unmarked by Shiyandindi’s long pass.
But the former Caps United striker agonisingly failed to connect, with the goalkeeper Wellington Muuya at his mercy.
Hwange kept probing until Ndlovu broke the deadlock on 50 minutes when he headed home a delightful cross from Canaan Nkomo.
From there on, goalie Muuya was the point of difference as he repelled attack after attack from Pirates.
He kept Chegutu Pirates at bay, notably in the 62nd minute mark when he saved a goal-bound strike by Ditima. However, he was powerless to deny a well-taken effort from Kumi four minutes later.
He was also unable to stop the Pirates penalty takers in the shootout.
