Simba Bhora . . . . . . . . . 0
Herentals . . . .. . . . . . . . 0
(Simba Bhora won 4-3 after a penalty shootout)
SIMBA Bhora kept their dream of a league and Cup double alive with a penalty shootout victory over Herentals in the Chibuku Super Cup first round match at Wadzanai Stadium.
After the game had ended goalless in regulation time, veteran goalkeeper Talbert Shumba ensured the Shamva-based side who are also chasing the league title, progressed to the quarter-finals of the Cup when he saved Erick Dombo and Zibusiso Ruguchu's penalties while William Kapumha shot wide during the shootout.
The Majarira siblings Blessing and Brighton Majarira as well as Clemence Zimondi were successful for Herentals.
Albert Manenji converted the crucial sudden death penalty for Simba Bhora, who also had Blessing Moyo, Onifade Abubakar and young Ishe Mauchi converting.
Walter Musona gave the hosts a huge scare when he blazed the first kick wildly over the bar while Tichaona Chipunza hit the cross bar.
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Victorious coach Tonderai Ndiraya whose team is second in the race for the league title, was pleased his side has progressed through after they crashed out at this stage last season.
Victory also means Simba Bhora remains unbeaten at Wadzanai, which is slowly becoming a fortress.
"It's a great feeling to win against Herentals. It was a difficult game, it's always difficult to play against Herentals. The fluidity was not there and it being a Cup game, it's always difficult to get fluidity because of the mentality that is behind the approach of these kind of games. I'm happy that we then prevailed in the end and we are through to the quarter-finals. We knew the match could end in penalties and we trained and though we had done enough in that aspect so I'm really surprised that we missed two. But that's the nature of the game. In the end, Talbert had to make the difference. He is well known for saving penalties so going into the penalties we knew that Talbert would win us the game," Ndiraya said.
Herentals coach Celistino Benza said, "I'm pleased with the team's performance considering that we were playing away. Losing is part of the game and losing today means that we are now concentrating on the league games."
