Arenel Movers...........................0
Manica Diamonds...................(0)1
MANICA Diamonds made it four wins in a row after a narrow victory over a stubborn Arenel Movers at Luveve Stadium yesterday afternoon in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match.
A 54th minute Farai Banda header was enough to seal the victory and landing Manica Diamonds on third place with Simba Bhora on 13 points.
The two teams seemed content with maintaining their defensive shape and looking to create scoring opportunities through quick breaks in the first half.
Even though Arenel had an opportunity in the 10th minute when Toto Banda failed to direct a Kudzi Dzingwe cross goalwards with a yawning goal in front of him, chances were few and far between.
Fortune Binzi looked threatening and in the 12th minute his excellent first touch set him through on goal, but his attempt to lob Ngwenya yielded no result.
In the 37th minute Njabulo Ngwenya's stinging shot was parried back into play by Geoffrey Chitsumba as Arenel threatened to go to the halftime break leading.
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However, it was not a surprise that the two teams went to the breather tied at 0-0.
Manica Diamonds then took the lead nine minutes after play resumed. Banda neatly planted a header past a badly exposed Ngwenya from a Thubelihle Jubane corner kick with Arenel defence static.
From then on, Manica Diamonds employed a physical game and shut shop. Arenel enjoyed the lions share of ball possession, but hardly troubled Chitsumba.
Arenel Movers coach Farai Tawachera felt his team's poor second half display was their major undoing. "The rhythm was not there, the cohesion to play as a team was not there. We played more like a second ball in the second half, which is something we never planned to do. We are not good at that. But those who make us play are the ones who played in the first half and because of fatigue you could see [the difference in the second half],” he said.
His counterpart Jairos Tapera, declared that they are going to win more matches.
“I have been in football for many years. I don't take solace or get happiness in a win. I have had so many wins in my life. I have been in football for 25 to 30 years, can you imagine. Winning a game of football is small history, which is right for that particular game. We shall win as many games as possible, mark my words," said Tapera.
Arenel Movers
A Ngwenya, K Dzingwe, D Magaiza, A Ndlovu, M Jackson, G Chigwenhese, B Jaravaza (Mukuli 55), Z Dambo (A Nyoni 89), T Banda , C Machisi (J Sibanda 55), B Ngwenya (G Kufandada 61)
Manica Diamonds
G Chitsumba, L Masibhera, F Banda, T Chisi, E Karembo, T Jubane, J Takunda, K Dhemera (B Amindu 61), G Bero (Teguru 61), T Macheka (M Tapera 46), F Binzi (G Dematsika 89).
