GWERU - Harare city coach Bigboy Mawiwi was left fuming after his charges allowed Chapungu to come back into the match and force a late equaliser in a Castle Larger Premiership match at Ascot Stadium that ended 1-1 yesterday.
Mawiwi had declared before the match that he was gunning for maximum points and true to his words, his side showed more determination to win the match as they were offensive from the onset.
“Its two points dropped rather than a point gained. We had a number of chances that we should have buried. We were the dominant side and we should have won. Anyway its football it happens,” said Mawiwi after the match.
William Manondo gave the Sunshine Boys the lead in the after 19 minutes when he fired in a shot that took a deflection off Agrippa Murimba before beating Chapungo keeper Roy mazingi.
The goal was created by the Phineas Bamusi, who weaved past a number of Chapungu players before squaring the ball for Manondo.
Bamusi was a constant thorn in the flesh for the home side’s defenders as he caused a lot of problems down the wings.
Murimba had a chance to make it 2-0 five minutes later but his shot off a rebound was punched for a corner by Mazingi.
Harare City continued piling on the pressure but they found Mazingi unyielding with the former Shabanie Mine goalie coming up with timely saves to keep his team in the match.
After the breather, the visitors had a number of chances to wrap up the match with Manondo coming face-to-face with Mazingi but the Chapungu goalkeeper came off his line to narrow the angle and blocked the effort.
Chapungu coach John Nyikadzino made a double substitution bringing in Farai Manase and Victor Bangira for Charles Murisa and Brighton Mugoni.
The changes failed to bring the desired equaliser for the hosts but with the match destined for a City win, Chapungu got a lucky break when they were awarded a free kick on the right three minutes from time.
Lawrence Maphuya swung in a delightful ball inside the box and Rodwell Mhlanga was at hand to connect with a sweetly-timed volley past City goalie Maxwell Nyamupanedengu for the equaliser.
Chapungu coach John Nyikadzino said: “We didn’t come to the party today. The draw is a good result because we were not in the match at all. Harare city had a number of chances which they could have wrapped up the match but they failed to do so.”