CAPS UNITED. . . . . . . . (0) 1
TRIANGLE UNITED . . . (0) 1
THE final whistle at Rufaro Stadium yesterday brought a roar of contrasting emotions.
For Caps United fans, it was a noise of relief and jubilation, a draw celebrated like a win.
For the travelling Triangle United faithful, it was a collective sigh of anguish, a hard-earned victory cruelly snatched away in the dying minutes.
Ishmael Wadi’s dramatic 90th minute equaliser, a moment of opportunistic brilliance following a defensive lapse, was the fulcrum on which these opposing fortunes hinged.
For much of the match, the narrative belonged to Triangle United.
The men from the Lowveld, battling valiantly to escape the clutches of relegation, played with a sense of purpose and cohesion that belied their league’s position.
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They settled quickly, dictating the pace with neat, incisive passing, showcasing a fluidity often missing from teams in the relegation zone.
While their early dominance of possession and territory did not immediately translate into clear-cut chances, it laid the groundwork for what was to come.
The breakthrough arrived just after the break.
A low corner from Witness Shave found Joel Munsaka, whose flick, aided by a deflection off Hastings Chapusha, put the visitors ahead.
On one hand, it was a goal that felt deserved, a testament to Triangle's control and disciplined approach.
Caps United, on the other hand, struggled to find their rhythm.
Despite the individual threat posed by Wadi with his blistering pace on the left, Makepekepe appeared disjointed, unable to provide the necessary support to turn promising runs into genuine opportunities.
Their efforts were largely subdued. When Nyasha Chintuli headed wide in the 72nd minute, it felt like a rare foray into dangerous territory rather than sustained pressure.
As the clock ticked down, Triangle continued to pose the greater threat, particularly through Tawanda Chatuluka, whose energetic runs on the left proved a constant headache for the Caps United defence.
Victory seemed assured for Genesis Mangombe's men. A win would have been monumental, lifting them out of the relegation zone for the first time all season, a tangible reward for their recent six-match unbeaten run.
But football, as they say, is a game of fine margins and cruel twists.
With moments left on the clock, Caps United, spurred on by the desperation of their home crowd, threw bodies forward.
A free-kick was floated into the box and what followed was a moment that will haunt Patson Jaure, Triangle's new recruit.
His feeble attempt to clear the ball out of danger somehow went awry, a misjudgment that left the ball hanging invitingly.
Lurking behind the former Dynamos defender, Wadi pounced, nodding the ball past a helpless Wilson Chingani.
The explosion of noise from the Caps United faithful was deafening.
It was a draw, but it felt like a victory, a hard-fought point salvaged from the jaws of defeat.
For Triangle, it was a punch to the gut.
"In big matches like this, you must have concentration up to the last second of the match," a crestfallen Mangombe reflected.
"It was just a lapse of concentration, then we conceded an avoidable goal. But it's a game of football, it's a game of mistakes. We pick it from here because we have a crucial game at home [against Ngezi Platinum Stars] next week."
Caps United coach Ian Bakala expressed his happiness with the point, acknowledging his side's less-than-stellar performance.
The draw keeps Caps United in 11th position, with 24 points after 20 rounds of matches.
In the end, Triangle still had chances to win it, with Aaron Zeka's goal-bound shot blocked and Stephen Kwaku making two crucial saves from set-pieces.
But the damage was done. The final whistle left Triangle kicking themselves, agonising over what might have been, while for Caps United, the draw felt undeniably like a win.
Teams
Caps United: S Kwaku, B Kadamanja, C Chitoshi, H Chapusha, K Mangiza, T Shandirwa, K Benyu, P Bamusi, I Wadi, N Chintuli, K Mugalu
Triangle: W Chingani, P Jaure, J Munsaka, J Pedra, M Mawadza, A Maliselo, B Sarupinda (M Mudzimu, 46'), T Kamusoko, A Zeka, W Shave (P Machengete, 76'), T Chatuluka.
