The atmosphere at MWOS Ngoni Stadium yesterday was electric, and rightfully so—MWOS FC, the Premier Soccer League debutants sitting second on the table, were on the verge of breaking a 42-year record by going eight matches unbeaten. But what was expected to be a routine home victory nearly turned into a nightmare, as ninth-placed Manica Diamonds FC shocked the hosts and came close to pulling off a dramatic upset.
Right from the opening whistle, MWOS came out firing. In the very first minute, Veremu found the back of the net, only for his effort to be ruled offside. It set the tone for an intense contest. However, the home crowd was left stunned in the 10th minute when Manica Diamonds’ Ask Rupande produced a moment of magic. From near the touchline, some 15 metres from the halfway line, Rupande spotted keeper Martin Mapisa off his line and launched an audacious strike that sailed over his head to give the visitors a shock 1-0 lead.
The Punters, rattled and trailing for the first time in weeks, responded with wave after wave of attack. Murambiwa narrowly missed with a header in the 18th minute, and Matinha’s free-kick in the 30th was safely gathered by the Diamonds’ keeper. Credit must go to Manica Diamonds’ backline, who remained composed under relentless pressure and put in one of the most disciplined defensive performances of the season.
Into the second half, MWOS FC continued to push. Zambezi went down in the box in the 51st minute, but the referee waved away penalty appeals. The breakthrough finally came in the 83rd minute when a clumsy challenge from the Gem Boys inside the area forced the referee to point to the spot. Despite protests, the decision stood, and Salif Cheya made no mistake from the spot to equalise.
The match ended 1-1, a fair result in the end, but one that felt like a loss for the Punters and a missed opportunity for Manica Diamonds. MWOS FC may have broken the unbeaten record for a debutant club, but Manica Diamonds exposed frailties that other PSL sides will be watching closely.
