Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Grace Chingoma
9 November 2009
Harare — GUNNERS kept the pressure on leaders Dynamos when they edged visiting Mutare side Highway in this Premiership soccer match at Gwanzura yesterday.
The narrow win means Chando Kupisa remain one point behind DeMbare who also won their match against Highlanders by the same scoreline at Barbourfields yesterday.
Dynamos lead the championship race with 53 points while Gunners are one point off the pace with 52 points.
DeMbare consolidated their lead yesterday after beating Highlanders through Milton Makopa's solitary strike in the 14th minute.
Makopa found the target with a neat right-footer after meeting Benjamin Marere's corner to silence the Bosso faithful among a good crowd of about 13 000.
At Gwanzura yesterday, Gunners midfielder David Rediyoni scored the only goal that separated his team and Highway in the 55th minute when he flicked home a header following a fine cross from Qadr Amini on the left flank.
It was all coach Moses "Bambo" Chunga's side needed to collect maximum points after they had missed a lot of chances in the opening period which could have made their life difficult if the visitors had got a chance to score.
Highway, who finished the match with 10 men after defender Tofireyi Sambo was sent off for an early shower for a second bookable offence in the 68th minute, were the first to settle down and just after three minutes striker Malvern Dumbura's shot hit the side netting.
But Gunners slowly crept into the game and after a quarter of an hour Tinashe Malunga dribbled his way into the box, but his final delivery was poor and More Moyo could not send the ball home.
Moyo was also denied by the crossbar in the 36th minute as Gunners threatened to score again. It was close.
In the second half, Gunners continued to put the visitors under constant pressure and substitute Arnold Chaka's long-range drive troubled goalkeeper Mathew Wurayayi who had to push the ball away for a corner.
And it came as no surprise when Gunners were finally rewarded with a goal 10 minutes after the break when Rediyoni struck with a header.
Highway, who are playing well despite being deep in the relegation zone, nearly equalised in the 64th minute when the hosts' goalkeeper Tafadzwa Dube was caught off his line and Hibron Makukutu's shot from the flank hit the side netting.
In the 71st minute, goalkeeper Dube was forced to make a reflex save off Stephen Sibanda's effort in a one-on-one situation.
Highway's last scoring chance came in the 86th minute when striker Sibanda's effort missed the target by a few inches with Gunners goalkeeper Dube a well beaten man.
Gunners coach Chunga said the recent two-week break had affected the rhythm of his players, but he added that it was good to "start" with a win after they had lost to Shooting Stars before the break to give way to the Cosafa Senior Challenge tournament.
"It's nice to start again with a win but the break had affected our rhythm.
"A month without playing competitive football is just too much.
"But I'm happy with the three points and we will keep on working hard though we could have scored at least two more goals."
Highway coach Shepherd Muradzikwa said his charges missed a lot of chances but vowed that his team would not be relegated, come season end.
"The boys played well but if you don't score you will lose a match. Scoring is the name of the game.We are not going to be relegated because the way we are playing, I am confident we will win our remaining matches and survive. We have four games remaining and we just need to lift up our game in the coming two matches," said Muradzikwa.
Teams
Gunners: T. Dube, T. Mtisi, N. Togara (A. Chaka 45th minute), R. Khola, T. Malunga, R. Zhuwawo, Q. Amini, D. Rediyoni, A. Sadiki (T. Mangezi 35th minute), M. Moyo (I. Lawe 77th minute), N. Maroto.
Highway: M. Wurayayi, A. Mambodza, L. Ntalika, S. Chitsamba, P. Alfasi, T. Sambo, T. Mpungu, H. Makukutu, T. Makukutu (S. Sibanda 56th minute)M. Dumbura, R. Kabesha(M. Mavuto 68th minute).
Gunners.........................................................(0)1
Highway.............................................................0
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2009 The Herald. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
