Harare — CAPS United ..........................................(0) 3

Chapungu ................................................(0) 2

CHAMPIONS CAPS United extended their lead in the Buddie Premiership to eight points after a dramatic win over stubborn Chapungu at Rufaro last night.

After a goalless first half, there were five goals in the second half in which CAPS took the lead, conceded two quick goals and then equalised before grabbing a late, late winner.

All three CAPS United goals came from their two second half substitutes Hadji Tambala, who scored twice, and Quincy Antipas and all three were from crosses.

Tambala's goals were both headers from corner kicks while Antipas also finished off a cross from near the corner flag, highlighting Chapungu defence's shortcomings in dealing with crosses.

Until last night, Chapungu had won all the Buddie Premiership matches in which they had scored twice or more, but the trend was stopped by a CAPS side that, in the process, distinguished itself from the rest of the league.

In Week Three, Chapungu struck twice and beat Sundowns 2-1 at Luveve and two weeks later they scored twice again and they managed to beat Dynamos 2-0 at the National Sports Stadium.

In Week Eight, Chapungu scored more than twice and walloped Eiffel Wildcats 5-1 and the following week they handed Masvingo United their first home defeat, posting a stunning 2-1 win at Mucheke.

On Sunday, the Gweru-based airmen scored twice and completed a 2-1 comeback win over Hwange at the Colliery and they were sensing victory again last night when Telme Paruma made it 2-1 after an equaliser by Dumisani Mafudze.

However, CAPS, urged by a good crowd of about 8 000 fans, fought back gallantly and collected all points much to the relief of coach Charles Mhlauri who faces back-to-back matches against former Premiership leaders Masvingo United starting at Mucheke Stadium on Sunday.

Last night's win took CAPS to 34 points from 14 matches, eight points more than second-placed Motor Action, who have 26 points from 14 matches.

It will now take three defeats for CAPS and three wins for Motor Action for the Buddie Premiership leadership to change hands and it will be four games for the likes of Masvingo United and Lancashire Steel.

So CAPS are guaranteed staying on top of the standings at least until August as they bid to retain the title they won last season.

Although CAPS won the match, they would be the first to admit that it was not an easy day in office as a determined Chapungu nearly ran away with the three points.

CAPS United were missing three regulars in striker Leonard Tsipa, wingback David Sengu and central defender Silent Katumba, who sat out because of injuries.

Ashley Rambanapasi made a comeback after serving a two-match suspension for picking a red card while Takesure Chirangwi was preferred ahead of Milos Phiri to fill Cephas Chimedza's shoes on the left wing-back position.

Chapungu were equally depleted by the absence of long-serving captain Clement Mugari, who pulled a muscle on Sunday, and stocky Maxwell Dube, who is nursing a groin injury.

After a goalless first half, CAPS United coach Mhlauri introduced Malawian international Tambala for Tichaona Nyenda after half-time.

In a Malawian affair, midfielder Joseph Kamwendo, who might be moving to South Africa soon, delivered a corner kick from the right and found Tambala, who placed a close-range header past veteran goalkeeper Innocent Chogugudza in the 51st minute.

The goal ignited wild celebrations and cheering from the CAPS fans as they spurred their team on.

But the celebrations were short-lived as Chapungu hit back immediately with Philip Marufu working his way past Elton Chimedza and then laid the ball for Tapiwa Kumbuyani who was on the right side of the box.

Kumbuyani flighted a low cross into the box and Mafudze ghosted in to place the ball past CAPS goalkeeper Evans Chewe in the 54th minute. The goal gave Chapungu confidence as the drums from the CAPS United supporters went silent and the visitors took the lead 10 minutes later in the 64th minute when referee Christopher Manuel awarded the Gweru airmen a free-kick outside the box, ruling that Chimedza had fouled Ricky Sibiya in a tussle for possession.

Sibiya took the free-kick on the right side and Chewe spilled an effort at goal allowing Paruma to drill the rebound home.

Sensing the need for goals, Mhlauri introduced Antipas and pulled out defender Asani Matola who had made his first appearance for CAPS this season.

Antipas became an instant hero for CAPS as he pulled the champions level, turning around to shoot past Chogugugdza in the 74th minute after the Chapungu defenders had failed to deal with a cross.

CAPS United appeared to have won a penalty in the 78th minute when Rambanapasi's pass found Limited Chikafa running at goal but before he could take aim, Chapungu defender Petros Ngodzo upended the striker inside the box and assistant referee Wonder Kalota had his flag up.

With the CAPS camp anticipating a penalty, Manuel overruled his assistant and waved the players to continue with play.

Tambala could have scored his second in the 80th minute but his effort from outside the box went just wide of the upright.

In the 88th minute Ngodzo then thwarted Antipas and pushed the ball for a corner, which Kamwendo delivered to the head of Tambala.

After the match Chapungu coach Joseph Michaels said their failure to deal with the corner kicks had been their undoing.

"We played well and I must say our boys had the fighting spirit throughout the whole match. I am happy with the performance and think that we will build on from there. But our failure to deal with the corner kicks let us down," said Michaels.

Teams

CAPS: E. Chewe, A. Matola (Q. Antipas 71st min), T. Chirangwi, E. Chimedza, L. Chilembe, A. Rambanapasi, T. Nyenda (H. Tambala 46th min), A. Mabhiza, J. Kamwendo, B. Badza, L. Chikafa (M. Phiri 88th min)

Chapungu: I. Chogugudza, T. Marimo, A. Nhongo, N. Nkala, T. Khumbuyani, D. Mafudze, M. Mahala, P. Marufu, R. Sibiya, P. Ngodzo, T. Paruma.