Harare — CAPS UNITED'S key CBZ Premiership tie against Underhill which has a huge bearing in their battle for a place in the Champions League next season -- was abandoned at Rufaro yesterday because of a waterlogged pitch.

The match which was abandoned at the break will now be replayed at the same venue today starting at 3pm.

Although the game was tied 1-1 at the break the two teams will now start from zero and play the full 90 minutes.

It means that the goals and goalscorers from yesterday's match have been nullified and Nyasha Mushekwi, who had headed home CAPS United's equaliser and boosted his chances of the Golden Boot, will have to do it again today.

Underhill remained in the capital yesterday after the Premiership management committee agreed to bankroll their stay and enable them to fulfil their match against Makepekepe today at Rufaro.

Heavy rains that pounded the capital, from around midday yesterday, turned Rufaro into a giant swimming pool and, although the game went ahead in the first 45 minutes, things took a turn for the worse at the break.

With heavy rains continuing to pound Harare, referee Gift Kajiva, who had a good game, delayed the start of the second half hoping that the rains would stop and the drainage system would drain the water that had covered the surface.

But after a lengthy delay, with the rains still lashing the stadium, Kajiva summoned the two teams onto the pitch and they took their positions ready to kick-start the second half.

CAPS United appeared to be the team that wanted the game to go ahead, probably thinking that an abandonment would mean that it would end in a 1-1 draw and end their Champions League dreams or because they wanted Mushekwi to get another 45 minutes to try his luck.

Kajiva was about to start the second half when he suddenly changed his mind and went to discuss the issue with his assistant and then decided to call the players back into their dressing rooms.

The referee was right to abandon the match because the waterlogged pitch meant that the surface had become too dangerous for the CAPS United players.

Underhill -- who turned on the style and played with the spirit of a team fighting for the championship rather than one that has already been relegated -- were the first to score just after the half-hour mark.

Captain Edmore Chapfungamoyo pushed them into the lead when he drilled home a beauty of a free-kick that was sent in from the left by Tongai Chiworeso.

The free-kick was awarded after giant CAPS United goalkeeper Edmore Sibanda tried to dribble past his marker, lost possession and resorted to dragging him from behind.

A Dynamos flag suddenly appeared on the Vietnam Stand as a fan of the Glamour Boys saluted Underhill for taking the lead in the never-ending battle between DeMbare and Makepekepe supporters.

DeMbare fans would also like CAPS United not to win this game, which will end the Green Machine's dreams of edging their side for the last Champions League slot next season.

A group of CAPS United supporters then hit back, with a song that mocked Dynamos and saluted Gunners for winning the championship, as the heat was turned on at Rufaro.

CAPS United equalised in the 40th minute when Mushekwi headed home a popular goal among the fans who wanted him to score to keep alive his dreams of winning the Golden Boot.

Mushekwi, though, appeared to be marginally offside when he headed the ball home.

The Green Machine struggled to play the passing game that has won them many admirers of late in the poor conditions of the surface but they should have taken the lead early on when, from their best move, they cut open the visitors' defence.

Clive Mwale, who scored when CAPS United fell 1-2 to Bantu Rovers in Bulawayo, found himself with only the goalkeeper to beat but his effort was pushed away from close range.

Surprisingly the referee awarded Underhill a goal-kick instead of a corner-kick to CAPS United.

The visitors were impressive, especially going forward, and they deserve credit for the manner they upheld the spirit of the game by giving it their best shot despite having been relegated. Underhill played like a team that was chasing the championship rather than one that had already been relegated and were a asset to the credibility of the Premiership.

CAPS United president Twine Phiri yesterday saluted Underhill for the way they respected the spirit of Fair Play.

"We were surprised by the way that Underhill played and they deserve to be commended for the way they respected the spirit of Fair Play by giving it all that they have even though they have already been relegated," said Phiri.

"There is still a lot at stake and we want to play in the Champions League and we have to win this game and also win against Motor Action and hope that other results go our way.

"If the weather permits, we promise our fans that we will give it our best shot tomorrow (today) and we appeal to them to come in numbers and inspire the boys against a tricky opponent that showed that it can play very good football.

"The pressure is on us because we are the team that is chasing a Champions League slot and we don't want to make mistakes while Underhill have a lot of freedom and that is why they played well."