Ngezi Platinum Stars (1)1
CAPS United (0)1
Ngezi Platinum Stars won 4 - 3 on penalties
Goalkeeper Chang Mariyon saved two penalty kicks to help league champions Ngezi Platinum Stars beat 10-man CAPS United to reach the semifinals of the Chibuku Super Cup at Baobab yesterday.
The match had to be settled through a penalty lottery after the two teams finished the match a goal apiece.
Marvelous Mukumba had given Ngezi Platinum Stars the lead late in first half before CAPS United equalised through a brilliant freekick from their captain Godknows Murwira, who was later sent off for a second bookable offence.
In the shootout, Mariyon saved kicks from Eric Manokore and William Manondo to help the team progress in the competition.
Captain Qadr Amini, Never Tigere, Farai Madhanaga and Malvern Hativagoni converted for Ngezi Platinum while Kudzai Chigwida missed.
For CAPS United Courage Sithole, Hastings Chapusha and Bruce Kangwa scored their spot kicks.
Ngezi Platinum Stars made yet another last four appearance after they lost in the final to Dynamos last year.
Coach Takesure Chiragwi was pleased with the win.
"I'm very happy with the win and what's important when playing cup games is to progress to the next round," he said.
" We thought we could protect our goal but they got a setpiece and we know Godknows Murwira has strength on setpieces and he managed to level the matters.
"But at the end of the game I would want to give credit for their resistance and making sure that we go through," Chiragwi added.
The visitors had the first sniff of goal early in the game after Ralph Kawondera picked out an unmarked Kingsley Mureremba who miscued his effort from 12 yards.
Mukumba blasted into the roof of the net nine minutes before the break to give the hosts the lead after latching on to an Obriel Chirinda cut-back.
Just before the hour mark, CAPS United won a freekick in a dangerous area after Mukumba handled the ball and Murwira curled the ball beautifully beyond Mariyon.
Murwira would turn villain for the Green Machine after he was shown a second yellow card and consequently a red card for delaying the restart of the game with 14 minutes still to be played.
The national team player got his first yellow card early in the second half after a scuffle with Chirinda.
In the end it was Mariyon who won the game for Ngezi Platinum Stars.
CAPS United coach Lloyd Chitembwe felt lack of experience in the penalty shootout was their biggest let down.
"In terms of penalties, the difference was the experience. I think their takers were very experienced and they had the coolest nerves in those situations, and that was the difference," said Chitembwe
Teams
Ngezi Platinum Stars - C Mariyon, K Chigwida, G Madhake, M Hativagoni, R Hachiro, F Madhanaga, T Benhura ( C Mapoka 46'), T Meke (Q Amini 75'), M Mukumba ( N Muzenda 90'), T Munemo( N Tigere 75), O Chirinda
CAPS United: A Reyners, G Murwira, H Chapusha, E Manokore, B Kangwa, R Chinyengetere ( L Chiwunga 46), J Bunjira(I Zambezi 77), R Kawondera ( I Nyoni 90'), W Manondo, P Bamusi ( C Sithole 90'), K Mureremba