CAPS United . . . . . . . (0)1
Herentals . . . . . . . . . . (1)1
VETERAN midfielder Devon Chafa missed a second half penalty as beleaguered Harare giants CAPS United were held by 10-man Herentals in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at the National Sports Stadium yesterday.
Tafadzwa Jimu gave The Students a first half lead, getting to the end of Luke Ruguchu's cross soon after the half hour mark.
However, the tide of the March changed 17 minutes before fulltime when Godfrey Mukambi was sent off for a crude tackle on William Manondo in the box and conceding a penalty in the process.
Goalkeeper Takudzwa Chikosi dived low to his left to deny Chafa from the spot and give Herentals hope of salvaging the three points.
But CAPS United came good nine minutes from fulltime as Clive Rupiya beat Chikosi from inside the box following a cross from the left side.
The Students managed to hang on for a precious point.
CAPS United coach Lloyd Chitembwe felt it was two points dropped rather than a point gained.
“I think it’s a case of three missed points because according to the balance of play I thought we created better opportunities than them. The fact that we went on to miss a penalty justifies the point that its three points lost," he said after the match.
CAPS United were clearly the better side in the second half and had further chances through Emmanuel Mandiranga from a free kick while Rupiya had a goal disallowed after Chikosi had spilled Blessing Sarupinda's ferocious shot.
The Green Machine, still smarting from last week's defeat to Highlanders in Bulawayo remain in 13th position on 30 points, just six points clear of the relegation zone.
Herentals, who occupied an impressive fifth position going into the weekend games, stretched their unbeaten run to eight matches.
Coach Kumbirai Mutiwekuziva also felt his charges deserved maximum points.
"I will take the point although deep down in my mind I thought three points could have been the best that we could have collected against CAPS United because we were the leading team until the second half, " he said.
Teams:
CAPS Utd - T Mateyaunga, P Musaka, K Bulaji, J Tulani, V Musarurwa, D Chafa, J Ngodzo (Blessing Sarupinda 60'), P Bamusi, E Mandiranga, C Rupiya, W Manondo
Herentals - T Chikosi, B Majarira, T Benza, J Zhuwawu (B Majarira 79'), G Mukambi, T Jimu ( D Marowa 46'), I Benza(C Gobvu 60'), P Chama (C Mujuru 79'), W Chimbetu, W Kapumha, L Ruguchu