Motor Action 0-0 Harare City
RELEGATED Motor Action held Harare City to a 0-0 draw in a Castle Lager Premiership tie at Gwanzura Stadium Wednesday, throwing some spanners into the title race.
Motor Action finished the match with 10-man after their captain Passmore Bernard was red carded by referee Langton Chitsa for a lunge on Pheneas Bamusi.
In their previous league match, Motor Action shocked Highlanders when they held them to a 1-1 draw with Walter Musona scoring the equaliser in that encounter.
On Wednesday Motor Action coached by Prince Matore fought bravely to salve a point against Harare City who are gunning for the championship along with Highlanders and Dynamos.
However, it was Harare City who dominated the first half with Talent Chawapiwa hitting the side of the net and the ball strangely found its way into the net which was torn on 14 minutes.
The referee Langton Chitsa however disallowed the goal but had to temporarily stop the match as he repaired the net.
When play resumed Harare City continued with their probing. Martin Vengesayi could have thrust his side ahead but failed to do justice to a wonderful delivery from the right by Chawapiwa on 22 minutes.
Motor Action also had a good opportunity a minute later but Scola Hadebe missed with a wild effort following a set up by Musona.
In the 29th minute James Jam and Vengesayi came close but their efforts were thwarted by the impressive Motor Action goalkeeper Bernard Donovan.
In the second half, Motor Action took control of the match and threatened Harare City with a series of raids with Musona and Emmanuel Mandiraya causing all sorts of problems for the Sunshine City Boys.
This forced Harare City to make some changes bringing on William Manondo for Martin Vengesayi and Osborne Mukuradare for Crybet Muvhuti.
He also pulled out Chawapiwa replacing him with Pheneas Bamusi as they searched for a goal which however remained stubbornly elusive.
Harare City however failed to take advantage of their numerical superiority following the expulsion of skipper Passmore Bernard for a lunge on Bamusi on 67 minutes.
City could have killed off the match as a contest in injury time as but were denied by a great save from goalkeeper Donovan.Advertisement
The draw saw Harare City dropping to third position after Highlanders won 1-0 against Triangle at Barbourfields Stadium.
Motor Action took their points tally to 20 but are still second from bottom position. Harare City coach Bigboy Mawiwi expressed disappointment but challenged his players to collect all points against Highlanders in their next match of the campaign this weekend.
“It’s disappointing. The players didn’t deliver. They lacked patience and missed a good number of crosses but we are still in the race,” said Mawiwi.
“The match against Highlanders is a must win. Motor Action are a good side. They play a passing game and there is a lot of movement in their play.”
Matore was satisfied with a draw.
“Our game plan was to collect maximum points. We want to finish on a high despite that we are relegated. Against Caps United at the weekend, we are also looking for maximum points,” he said.
Results
Wednesday: Dynamos 1-1 Shabanie Mine, Highlanders 1-0 Triangle, Harare City 0-0 Motor Action, Caps United 2-3 Black Rhinos, FC Platinum 3-1 Black Mambas, Hwange 2 -0 Buffaloes, Tripple B 1-4 Chicken Inn
