NORMAN Mapeza saluted Scottland’s character as the champions scored their NINTH goal in their last three matches to edge TelOne 3-2 at Ascot yesterday. Walter Musona struck six minutes from time to drag the defending champions over the line. It stretched their winning run to three straight wins but this one came with a proper test.
TelOne refused to go away and twice pulled level, pushing the visitors all the way. “It was a good game, we gave away the lead just after the break but restored the lead and then gave away a needless set piece,” said Mapeza. “But it was about that psychological pathway, the boys showed resilience, it was brilliant.
We kept fighting and pushing. “The character, the resilience and mental strength from the boys was massive, well done to the boys.” Terrence Dzvukamanja finished off a neat move midway through the first half, getting on the end of an Emmanuel Ziocha lay-off, to put the visitors ahead. Blessing Matebeck delivered a clean cross and Jerry Chipangura rose to head home the equaliser.
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A mistake at the back was punished, Ziocha stepping in to restore the lead almost instantly and shift the momentum again. Matebeck made it 2-2 and, at that point, the home side looked the more likely to snatch it. Musona read the moment, wrestled possession off the TelOne defence and finished with composure to settle it late on, silencing the home crowd and sealing another win.
Coach Hebert Maruwa pointed to the same problem. “Like in the last game, we gave away two easy goals, we conceded schoolboy blunders allowing them to score,” he said. “But we are not a bad side, we will keep working hard and results will come, we showed our quality by scoring two goals against Scottland which shows how much of a good side we are, I think this is the first time they have conceded two goals this season.”
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