Yadah collapse in late drama as Ngezi stage stunning comeback - herald

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Monumental disaster. That was the grim verdict of Yadah Stars coach Takaendesa Jongwe after watching his side squander a two-goal lead and lose 3-2 to Ngezi Platinum Stars in one of the most dramatic finishes of the Premier Soccer League season.

The Miracle Boys appeared to be in complete control for much of the match. They struck inside the opening minute when Tanaka Chikumba slid home from a Shingai Masukuta cross, and Evans Rusike doubled the advantage ten minutes later after being picked out by King Nadolo.

But instead of tightening their grip, Yadah wilted under pressure. Ngezi pulled one back in the 38th minute through Talent Chamboko, whose surging run and finish sparked the fightback. The half-time whistle blew with the scoreboard at 2-1, but the momentum had shifted.

Chamboko should have levelled the match early in the second half when he found himself with an open goal after rounding the keeper in the 53rd minute. To the disbelief of the fans, he blazed over.

Yadah, buoyed by the reprieve, continued to press high. Their pressing disrupted Ngezi's build-up, with goalkeeper Darlington Murasiranwa often forced into hurried clearances. But the Miracle Boys failed to put the game beyond reach.

Sensing an opportunity, Ngezi coach Takesure Chiragwi rolled the dice, introducing Delic Murimba and Ashwin Karengezha to inject pace. The substitutions proved decisive.

In the 73rd minute, Chamboko atoned for his earlier miss, rising to head home Karengezha's corner for the equaliser.

Then, deep into added time, Murimba, back from an 18-month injury layoff, popped up to slam in the winner and complete the comeback.

A shattered Jongwe blamed himself.

"It's a monumental disaster, I have no explanation to give. It is just a disaster which I believe I am responsible for. We gave up that game so easily," he admitted.

"At this level, you don't lead and then collapse like that. We looked on a high in the first half and should have sealed it. Congratulations to them, they played their cards well. Probably I couldn't react accordingly."

Chiragwi, in contrast, was all smiles. He praised his young squad's resilience and maturity in a must-win fixture following last weekend's draw with Bikita.

"We lost concentration conceding in the opening 38 seconds, and that's not what you want as a coach. But I'm happy with how the boys reacted. They remained calm, controlled possession, and fought to the end," he said.

"Some of these boys are playing top-flight football for the first time. Then we have Murimba, who's just returned from an 18-month injury layoff. To see them perform like this shows we are moving in the right direction."

Teams

Yadah Stars: Gurure, King Nadolo, Tanaka Chikumba, Evans Rusike, Terence Daka, Jerry Chipangura, Emmanuel Chitauro, Mewali, Masukuta, Marvellous, Takunda Vareta

Ngezi Platinum Stars: Darlington Murasiranwa, Talent Chamboko, Polite Moyo, Gomezani Chirwa, Richard Hachiro, Marvellous Mukumba, Qadr Amini, McDonald Makuwe, Munemo, Takunda Benhura, Mavhudzi