CAPS United . . . . . . . (1)1
Yadah FC . . . . . . . . . . (0)1
STRIKER William Manondo scored his 12th goal of the season but it was not enough to give CAPS United victory as they shared the spoils with Yadah FC at Rufaro Stadium.
Manondo is now the league's top scorer ahead of Yadah's Khama Billiat and Lynoth Chikuhwa of Highlanders who are tied on 11 goals.
CAPS United took the lead on the stroke of halftime after Manondo headed home from an Eric Manokore's freekick.
Yadah FC, who were missing the services of Billiat through suspension, dominated the second half and got their equaliser from substitute Ryan Ncube who blasted the ball home from close range halfway through the second half.
The draw saw CAPS United remaining on eighth position with 38 points from 28 matches while Yadah are 11th on 34 points.
CAPS United coach Lloyd Chitembwe felt defensive mistakes in the second half and missed chances cost them maximum points.
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'I thought we literally gave it away. It was one game that we controlled and dominated, but unfortunately in the second half we made quite a number of defensive mistakes. When you make mistakes at this level you get punished and I thought their equaliser was one situation we could have easily dealt with.Unfortunately, we also missed a good opportunity in the second half probably due to lack of concentration on the part of the player," he said.
The visitors' coach Thomas Ruzive said the absence of Billiat was felt in the team's performance.
“It's a good result considering that we were playing one of the biggest teams in the country, but I am also worried that we missed a lot of chances. Indeed we missed Billiat because he is not an ordinary player. He is one of the most experienced players in our team and with the chances we created today, we could have won the game if Billiat had played," he said.
Caps were the better side early in the match and could have scored, but Manondo shot tamely at the goalkeeper after getting to the end of livewire winger Junior Bunjira's cross after 17 minutes.
Terence Maguranyanga had the best chance of the game for Yadah, going through on goal after beating the offside trap but he blazed his effort over the cross bar from inside the box late in the first half.
Manondo then glanced his header into the top corner to beat the halftime whistle.
Yadah came from the break a rejuvenated side and were rewarded when substitute Ncube slotted the ball home from inside the box after he was fed by the impressive Jerry Chipangura.
Moments earlier, Ncube almost made an instant impact after his blistering shot crashed off the crossbar, bounced on the line and back into play with probably his first touch of the ball just after the hour mark.
Yadah had a penalty shout waved away by referee Mercy Mayimbo with seven minutes left on the clock after goalkeeper Ashley Reyners appeared to have brought down Ncube inside the box.
Teams:
CAPS United: Ashley Reyners, E Manokore, B Kangwa, H Chapusha (I Zambezi 58'), K Mureremba, J Bunjira( I Nyoni 49' (I Sithole 89')), R Chinyengetere, M Mbollo, W Manondo, P Bamusi
Yadah FC: M Kigonya, C Mandivei, E Chitauro, A Gwatidzo, M Faranando, F Mustafa ( M Mlilo 52'), B Ndereki, T Rusike ( A Makopa 90'), T Maguranyanga ( V Sango 68'), E Rusike(R Ncube 59'), J Chipangura
