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HARARE - CAPS United bounced back to winning ways with a comfortable 3-0 win over visiting Shabanie Mine in a Castle Premiership match here yesterday.
Gerald Phiri and Pevington Zimunya found the target for the Green Machine for the first time since they joined the club at the start of the season with a goal each while Ronald Pfumbidzayi chipped in with the other one from the penalty spot.
Makepekepe put behind their in-house problems which rocked their last match against Chapungu. They lost 0-3 to the air force side.
And a relieved CAPS United coach Taurai Mangwiro could not hide his excitement after the match.
“We needed to respond positively after that loss to Chapungu last week,” Mangwiro said.
“We were always under pressure coming into this match. My main concern is the away form. Let’s hope we will be able to turn things around this time around.
“I am happy for the boys and the team. Phiri and Zimunya, they got their first goals. You can see the confidence that they have on the ball. I think it’s good for them as we go forward.
“The good thing is there is no much gap with the leading teams. If we can improve on our away form then we will be able to mount a serious title challenge.”
The win saw CAPS move to sixth place on the log table with 17 points, five behind Hwange who are on top following their 1-0 win against Dynamos.
Shabanie Mine coach John Phiri was not happy with his team’s performance and felt hard done by the referees’ decision to award a penalty later in the second half.
“Our play was poor. We did not play according to plan. It was very disappointing performance from the boys,” Phiri said.
“I also felt the penalty was a hard decision on goalkeeper Twaliki whom I think had an outstanding match”.
United were always the more threatening side in the first-half, especially with the lively Phiri and Moses Muchenje in the midfield but they were let down by the finishing of strikers Leonard Fiyado and Dominic Chungwa who were wasteful in front of goal.
Zimunya however opened the scoring for the Green Machine in the 12th minute with a well-executed shot from out the box after capitalizing on some sloppy defending by the Shabanie defence.
Shabanie Mine were hardly a threat to CAPS and their first real chance came in the 36th minute when Daniel Chakupe’s shot crashed against the upright after he was sent through by Allen Tavarwisa.
Although the asbestos miners enjoyed a huge share of possession after the break, they however failed to create any meaningful chances. The introduction of Hardlife Zvirekwi for Fiyado in the 59th minute saw Makepekepe regained the upper hand.
CAPS doubled their lead in the 71st minute when Pfumbadzayi converted from the spot kick after Twaliki brought down substitute Godknows Mangani in an attempt to clear his lines.
Phiri got on the scoresheet two minutes into added time getting to the end of a re-bound from keeper Twaliki, who failed handle a powerful Chungwa shot.
CAPS: Jorum Muchambo, Tapiwa Kumbuyani, David Chipala, Stephen Makatuka, Ronald Pfumbidzayi, Tendai Samanja, Moses Muchenje (Dominic Mukandi, 87m), Gerald Phiri, Pevington Zimunya (Godknows Mangani, 70m), Leonard Fiyado (Hardlife Zvirekwi, 59m), Dominic Chungwa.
Shabanie: Victor Twaliki, Godknows Murwira, Nelson Merson, Smart Muchabaiwa, Zvenyika Makonese, Hadlife Mavundi, Zvikomborero Biseki (William Ngonya 67th minute), Daniel Chakupe, Harmilton Masumbuko (Xolani Ncube, 57m), Ashley Mukwenya, Allen Tavarwisa.