Everson Feremba came off the bench to score a crucial late winner for MWOS, as the Premiership debutants returned to the summit of the table with a hard-fought 1-0 win over ten-man Bikita Minefals at Ngoni Stadium yesterday.
Lloyd Mutasa’s men did everything to try and break the resolute Bikita defense throughout the game but couldn’t.
Even Bikita being reduced to ten men following referee Lawrence Zimhondi’s decision to give Chelsea Nyakope a straight red card for a dangerous challenge of Tinotenda Mutyambizi couldn’t result in MWOS breaking the deadlock.
In the second half, with time added on, Feremba was in the right place at the right time to slot home from close range, sparking wild celebrations at Ngoni.
It was the dreadlocked striker’s first goal for the Punters this season and, by an enormous distance, his most important since joining the club last year.
The win resulted in MWOS retaining the top spot on the log standings, three points clear of second-placed Simba Bhora.
MWOS coach Lloyd Mutasa was relieved his charges managed to collect maximum points.
“It was another very difficult match. It took us almost 90 minutes to get a goal. I am happy that they did what they have always been doing, which is fighting to the death, and at the end of it, after persevering, we managed to get the three points,” said Mutasa.
“I am happy we have managed to keep the record intact. I think we are out of the relegation zone now. Our next target is something like a top-eight finish.
“For us as the technical team, it’s one game at a time, and maybe if we win the next game, we’ll see how it goes,” he added.
At Wadzanayi, defending champions Simba Bhora were held to a 1-1 stalemate by ZPC Kariba.
Namibian hotshot Isaskar Gurirab gave Simba a 62nd minute—his sixth goal of the season—before ZPC Kariba restored parity with a brilliant free kick five minutes later.
At Rufaro, Herentals piled more misery on Dynamos, with a 2-0 victory over the out-of-sorts Harare giants.
Goals from Tino Benza and a Shadreck Nyahwa own goal resulted in maximum points for the students.
