Chicken Inn 1-1 Yadah Stars
(Yadah Stars won 5-4 on penalties)
CHICKEN Inn were knocked out of the 2024 Chibuku Super Cup tournament after a penalty shootout that ended 4-5 in favour of visiting Yadah Stars in a first-round match at Luveve Stadium yesterday.
The game had ended one all in regulation time. Blessed Ndereki thrust the Miracle Boys into the lead in the 15th minute courtesy of a hard and low shot that beat Gamecocks goalkeeper, Donovan Bernard with his defence in sixes and sevens.
Ndereki finished off a move started by Khama Billiat who sent in a beautiful cross into the box, which landed on Jerry Chipangura’s path. Chipangura brilliantly dribbled past the defence before releasing a shot, which was blocked and Ndereki finished off with a hard and low rebound to make it count for the Miracle Boys.
Thereafter, the visitors deservedly took the game to the hosts and the two teams headed for a breather with the Miracle Boys with their tails up. Gamecocks’ introduction of Brandon Rendo deep into the second half for veteran Danny “Deco” Phiri in the 73rd added fire into their raids.
It was no wonder that, another substitute, Brighton Makopa levelled the matters for the Simbisa Brands sponsored outfit seven minutes before fulltime. Yadah Stars goalkeeper, Mathias Kigonya saved Leroy Ndlovu’s effort, which was the only missed kick before going on to score the winning penalty for the Miracle Boys.
In the shootout, Xolani Ndlovu, Arthur Chinda, Marlvin Hwata and Michael Charamba all converted from the spot for Gamecocks. For Yadah Stars, ex-Warriors poster boy, Billiat, Evans Rusike, Prosper Kafelapanjila and Francis Mustafa and Kigonya all found the back of the net. Chicken Inn coach, Joey Antipas blamed the defeat on his senior players failing to take responsibility in the shootout.
“The senior players did not take responsibility. At the end, it was up to a youngster to take responsibility and as a young player sometimes you freeze and that is what happened,” said Antipas.
Yadah Stars coach, Thomas Ruzive, who tracked back to the dressing room and did not watch the shootout, was happy to progress to the next round of the competition. On his decision not to watch the shootout he said: “I wanted to take the pressure off the players.
In the end it was a game of two halves as they dominated the second half and us the first.” Chicken Inn were punished for a sloppy performance in the first half, with the Gamecocks going into the break a goal behind and having spent much of the first half defending.
Five minutes into game, ex-Warriors striker, Rusike beat Mpumelelo Bhebhe for pace only to fire straight at Bernard with just five minutes played. A minute later, Rusike bulldozed past the Chicken Inn central defence but the opponents were quick to close him down. Thereafter, Chicken Inn’s George Majika tried his luck from a distance but his shot was off target.
Action quickly swung to the other end as Rusike won a corner kick, but Yadah could not make the most out of it.
Chicken Inn then launched a promising counter, but Brian Muza was brought down in a good position for a set piece, but the hosts proved too wasteful.
Chicken Inn’s best chance in the first half was when Bhebhe had his header from inside the box cleared off the line by Lennox Mucheto. Chicken Inn were the better side in the second half dominating play, but they lacked the killer instinct.
At the end of the game, fans jostled to have a picture with Billiat whose every touch seemed to ignite the fans, particularly the neutrals.
Chibuku Super Cup Results
Chicken Inn 1-1 Yadah (4-5 on penalties)
Bikita Minerals 0-1 CAPS United FC Platinum 1-0 TelOne
