Yadah stumble, Buffaloes rally, top spot goes begging in Mutare
Yadah Football Club missed the chance to go top of the Pacific Storm Eastern Region Soccer League after a pulsating 2-2 draw with Buffaloes Football Club at the Showgrounds in Mutare on Sunday.
A win would have taken Yadah to 13 points, opening a two-point lead over Green Fuel FC who also drew on Saturday.
Buffaloes had their own shot at the summit.
Victory would have put them joint top on 11 points. In the end, a fair result from a highly entertaining game that could have gone either way.
Yadah signalled intent from kickoff, winning the first corner inside three minutes and forcing two quick follow-ups.
Buffaloes survived the early storm but were stunned in the 12th minute when Jaison Kudzai collected the ball 50 metres out, beat his man, and rifled a hard, low drive into the back of the net for 0-1.
Watungwa-Watungwa looked shell-shocked as Yadah controlled the half.
An injury forced Yadah’s first change in the 22nd minute, Vincent Sango replacing Tanaka Gahadzikwa.
Paul Chiramba wrecked havoc down the left in the 25th minute, beating two markers before his cross ricocheted goalward and was cleared off the line.
Buffaloes’ first real joy came on 32 minutes when Vengai Anthony sent a free kick wide from the edge of the box.
Substitute Sango headed wide from Chiramba’s delivery in the 36th minute as Yadah kept probing.
Buffaloes finally stirred before the break, Theophilus Gonora forcing a save in the 40th minute that left the Yadah goalkeeper needing treatment.
The hosts finished the half stronger, carving two quick chances deep in added time but failing to convert.
Buffaloes came out in “beast mode” after the restart.
Kumbirai Katsande was hacked down inside the box in the 57th minute after getting past two markers.
Referee Brandon Mvura pointed to the spot and Terrance Marikano buried the 58th-minute penalty, sending the Yadah keeper the wrong way to make it 1-1.
The Showgrounds exploded as the Watungwa-Watungwa faithful belted song after song.
Both sides hunted a winner. Yadah made an attacking change in the 66th minute, Munashe Midzi replacing Paul Chiramba. The game turned end-to-end with no room for error. Skipper Aldridge Mubango took a ball to the face in a brave goal-line block on 75 minutes, stopping a shot on target before Yadah forced three quick corners.
The deadlock broke again in the 80th minute.
A long ball forward saw the Buffaloes keeper parry into danger.
The rebound was blocked by a sea of red jerseys but fell kindly to substitute Munashe Midzi, who drilled home to make it 1-2.
Buffaloes hit back instantly. In the 82nd minute, Aldridge Mubango restored parity for the Ndombolo Boys at 2-2, sparking more delirium in the stands.
The final minutes were breathless. Buffaloes’ keeper produced a huge save late on to deny Yadah as both sides chased all three points. Brandon Mvura blew for full time with the game on a knife-edge.
Buffaloes FC head coach Nyarai Masunda was satisfied with the point and saluted his charges for a spirited performance:
“The boys showed character. We were second best early on but we fought back. To come from behind against a team like Yadah and almost win it shows our spirit. I’ll take the point and the performance.”
Yadah FC coach Kudakwashe Masaraure rued missed first-half chances that could have put them top of the log:
“We should have buried this game in the first half. We created enough to be two or three up. When you don’t take those chances, you get punished. Still, I’m satisfied with an away point against a good opponent. Credit to Buffaloes, they gave us a good run.”
