TRIANGLE - Courage Denias’ solitary strike was all Triangle needed to edge a fighting Harare City in an exciting Castle Lager Premiership contest at Gibbo Stadium on Sunday.
The Sugar-Sugar Boys’ hard-fought victory was a perfect tonic to a disastrous end to the 2015 season and injected confidence in its legion of fans after losing their coach and key players in the offseason.
New coach David Mandigora may be on course to re-erecting the torn-down reputation of Gibbo as a fortress in the Lowveld.
The visitors will, however, feel hard done after a Raphael Manuvire 35th minute strike was disallowed for offside.
Edwin Madhananga, Ronald Chitiyo and Manuvire had worked their magic down the left with Manuvire slotting home.
Assistant match official Anthony Siyavhunda, however, flagged the goal for offside.
Triangle could have gone ahead as early as the 18th minute through a Lameck Nhamo spectacular free-kick after Malvin Gaki was hauled down by Arnold Chivheya.
The Sunshine Boys’ shot stopper Maxwell Nyamupanedengu was equal to task as he saved the set-piece.
Three minutes later Triangle also had another brilliant chance after Denias made a fine run on the left flank leaving Munyaradzi Diro Nyenye for dead with his blistering pace only to over-hit the ball for a goal kick.
The teams went to the breather tied nil all after a pulsating contest.
An on-fire Denias was unlucky not to have scored as early as the 51st minute when his header was saved brilliantly by Nyamupanedengu after connecting with a Brian Juwayeyi cross.
Five minutes later Harare City coach Taurai Mangwiro was then sent for an early shower for verbally abusing a match official.
There was, however, no denying Denias in the 65th minute when he turned and fired inside a congested 18-yard box.
Triangle then hung on to deny the visitors who threw everything at them in search of an equaliser.