Simba Bhora . . . . . . . . (0) 1
Chicken Inn . . . . . . . . .( 0) 0
Castle Lager Premier Soccer League pacesetters Simba Bhora moved 10 points clear and edged closer to the title after victory over former champions Chicken Inn at a heaving Wadzanayi Stadium yesterday.
A Perfect Chikwende glancing header from a Water Musona freekick on 77th minute was all the Tonderai Ndiraya-coached side needed for the big victory.
Simba Bhora are now on 60 points, 10 above second placed Fc Platinum who have a chance to reduce the gap to seven when they play against Hwange at the Colliery today.
Ndiraya's men now need three wins from the remaining five league games without having to worry about what happens elsewhere.
The September Coach of the Month described yesterday's win as golden.
"It's a very big win, very big three points, golden three points I should say," said Ndiraya whose side remains unbeaten at Wadzanayi.
"We were playing a very good team today. Chicken Inn are a very hard nut to crack. They are a solid team with a lot of quality. We had to show quality and character today. We were very patient in the first half and even after the breather, we were just believing that the goals would come. It was just a matter of time.
"We started pushing forward with some bit of caution because we know what Chicken Inn can do. In our pushing forward we then won a freekick which made the difference. With Walter Musona behind the ball, you are always assured of quality balls into the box. I'm happy for Perfect Chikwende who got to the end of that freekick and after that it was just a matter of managing the game," he said.
Chicken Inn are on sixth position with 39 points, although they can slump down on the standings after today's results.
The Gamecocks coach Joey Antipas was gracious in defeat.
"We were a bit unfortunate today," Antipas said. "The guys played very well, but that's the nature of the game. You lose a game by a small margin and that is exactly what happened to us today. We played a good game, contained them very well. Well done to Simba Bhora, they picked maximum points and they are gunning for the championship."
Victory stretched Simba Bhora's unbeaten run to 13 games as they marched towards their maiden championship.
In a game of very few chances, it was Brian Muza who had a first sniff at goal midway through the first half, but his effort could not really trouble goalkeeper Talbert Shumba.
The first real opportunity of the game arrived in 60th minute when Tymon Machope set up Harrison Masina through on goal, but the forward scuffed his shot which was gathered comfortably by Chicken Inn goalkeeper Benard Donovan.
With their only second meaningful chance, the hosts found the breakthrough.
Musona flighted a perfectly weighted freekick into a crowded box which needed a slightest of touches from Chikwende into the back of the net despite the best efforts of Donovan.
Musona almost doubled his team's lead on 86th minute, but Donovan pulled a spectacular one hand save to keep the ball out.
Teams
Simba Bhora: T Shumba, R Kangadzi, B Moyo, I Mauchi, W Tafa, G Saunyama (A Manenji, 81'), T Chipunza, J Makunike (V Kawe, 67'), W Musona (I Nyanhi, 92'), H Masina (P Chikwende, 67'), T Machope
Chicken Inn: B Donovan, X Ndlovu, T Joseph, K Chinda, M Bhebhe, D Phiri (Jaricha, 46'), G Mutungamiri (Fieldman, 67', I Mabunu, G Majika (M Hwata, 67'), M Charamba (Makopa, 87'), B Muza (Nyamutsaka, 75')