Mwaruwari scores for City Reserves on return from injury

Mwaruwari scores for City Reserves on return from injury

HITMAN: Benjani Mwaruwari scored on return from injury

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Posted to the web: 04/11/2008 01:28:15
BENJANI Mwaruwari marked his return to action after a lengthy lay-off with injury by scoring the winner in Manchester City Reserves’ 2-1 win over the Liverpool Reserves on Monday night.

The Zimbabwean striker pounced just before the break to score as City completed a double over Gary Ablett’s team in the space of a month in the Barclays Premier Reserve League.

Also returning to fitness were Darius Vassell and Michael Ball who could all be recalled to recharge City’s stuttering Premier League campaign following the loss to Bolton last weekend.

The three players featured for the first 45 minutes before being withdrawn, but that was enough for the Zimbabwean to remind Mark Hughes that he is one of the Premier League’s top strikers.

Paul Marshall opened the scoring at the Halliwell Jones Stadium after just nine minutes, pouncing on an error by Huth on the edge of the area and drilling the ball past Liverpool keeper Peter Gulacsi.

The rest of the half was largely without incident until two goals inside two minutes just before the break changed the face of the match. Firstly, El Zhar levelled the scores when he drove the ball in from 20 yards out, but the Blues hit back almost immediately through another error in the Reds’ defence.

Benjani had nearly latched on to McDermott’s through ball but looked to have been denied by Huth. Gulacsi fumbled the chance to save and Benjani did not need to be asked twice, quickly pouncing on the rebound to net from close range.

It has been a disappointing start to the new season for Benjani, scorer of 15 league goals last season, after he picked up a serious thigh injury when returning to pre-season training with City.

He missed key matches for Zimbabwe in the World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

City currently lie 10th in the league -- 13 points behind leaders Chelsea. Hughes could be forced to recall Benjani, Vassell and Ball for Tottenham's visit to the Eastlands on Saturday.
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