SCOTTLAND . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 1
TRIANGLE UNITED . . . . . . .(0) 0
FOR all the preseason glamour and glitter, flamboyant side Scottland needed a stoppage time own goal from Blessing Chiota to claim their first win in their debut league campaign.
Scottland were virtually outplayed by a determined and well-drilled Triangle side, who have just returned to the topflight league.
A very good crowd of close to 10 000 fans turned up to watch the season opener, expecting to witness the battle of newcomers.
In the midst of all the excitement, Scottland failed to accommodate journalists, shutting them out of the media tribune and filling it up with their fans.
Journalists had to watch the match from the Mbare End stand.
In the match, the league debutants failed to test the visiting goalkeeper Hamilton Makaingamwa the entire match, but in the end bagged three points.
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Scottland coach Tonderai Ndiraya was delighted with the historic win, but pleaded for time for the team to gel.
“I think this is historic for us as a team. First game in the Premier League, the topflight league. Then you start that with a win, you can’t ask for more. What is important for us is that we have taken off. But it was difficult, I must admit,” he said after the match.
“We always knew that it was going to be difficult. But despite having a galaxy of stars in our team, I think it's important to understand that football is a process.
“You may buy whoever you want from the market, but in the end, the players have to understand each other and play as a team in the long run.”
Added Ndiraya: “So, that is a process. It doesn’t happen in one day. It doesn’t happen during pre-season, so I think with more games, the team will then start to play as a team.
“At the moment, we are not a team yet. But I think what is important is what we have done here today.”
Triangle coach Luke Masomere did not wait for the post-match interview with the print media journalists.
Scottland dominated the early exchanges, but failed to offer any goal threat, while the visitors from the Lowveld looked dangerous every time they went on a counter-attack.
It was Triangle who had the first big chance to take the lead 10 minutes before the break, but Munashe Bamara dragged his shot with the goalkeeper to beat.
Vasili Kawe and Tymon Machope had chances for the hosts, but failed to capitalise.
Forwards Ali Sadiki and Elton Njini caused a lot of problems for the Scottland defence each time they went on attack.
The Triangle performance was so good that they received a standing ovation from the majority of fans.
Lynoth Chikuhwa had a good chance to give the hosts the lead five minutes into the second half, but blazed over with the goalkeeper to beat
Substitute Panashe Mutimbanyoka, who brought some urgency in the Scottland attack, watched in disbelief as his shot from the edge of the box crushed off the cross halfway through the second half.
And with the match headed for a share of the spoils, disaster struck for Triangle as miscommunication at the back saw Chiota beating his own goalkeeper Makaingamwa trying to chest the ball back to him.
The win means Scottland go top of the standings for the time being.
Teams
Scottland: T Shumba, L Chikuhwa (S Urikhob, 70’), W Musona, A Manenji (P Mutimbanyoka, 51’), P Mudhuwa, G Murwira, K Moyo, R Pfumbidzai (R Pfumbidzai, 70’), T Machope, F Botchway, V Kawe (K Jaison, 75’)
Triangle United: H Makaingamwa, K Damalankunda, C Musimwa, Z Chiengora, B Chiota, T Kamusoko, J Munsaka (M Mudzimu, 61’), M Bamara, P Machengete, E Njini (T Chatuluka, 87’), A Sadiki
