|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready…
|
Writes Chimeno Azriel
Golden Valley Football Club turned in a masterful display to edge CUMA Academy 2-0 in a top-of-the-table match played in a packed Rimuka Stadium on Sunday.
Two beautiful goals in the second half were enough to see Golden Valley Football Club open a 2-point lead at the summit of the Mashonaland West Division 2B league after another league pacesetters Venice Football Club beat Hurricanes United 1-0 to leave the log wide open.
The explosive match started at a fast pace with the host initially looking a little disjointed in the absence of their skipper but the visitors could not punish CUMA’s defence. CUMA Academy’s youthful goalkeeper, Tafadzwa Kamina, was the busiest of the two goalkeepers with the Rimuka High 2 Lower 6 student pulling some spectacular saves to deny the visitors to take the lead in the first half.
Golden Valley FC’s tactics were to get numbers in behind the CUMA midfield and their counterattacks were looking dangerous with the host defence outnumbered on several occasions. The remainder of the first half saw CUMA pegged back as Golden Valley enjoyed commanding possession, often with the impressive Shepherd Munetsi pulling out the strings.
Second-half Golden Valley FC substitute, Mac Given Aliya, turned the match into entertaining football with his dashing runs and it was not surprising he made a solo run on the left flank after a patient build-up ended with Aliya’s deft cross finding the head of Kudakwashe Mutaonga who headed home in the 49th minute to give the visitors the deserved lead.
A few minutes later, those small margins were exploited when Golden Valley doubled their lead through hard-running Shepherd Munetsi in the 60th minute and the match completely changed the rhythm. CUMA tried to come back but could not match the impressive display from the visitors.
Golden Valley FC were purring and CUMA Academy were chasing shadows but there was always the feeling that should the home team side find at least a goal, it would have been a different game, but the game was already in favour of the visitors.
It was a wonderful game from Leo Kurauzvione’s side who are now sitting pretty on the summit of the log.
Speaking after the game, Golden Valley FC Assistant Coach Steven Mpofu praised his troops for playing the game as per instructions and coming out winners and he also praised former CUMA Academy player Aliya for helping the team to win the game.
“We are happy that the team managed to play the game as per instructions and Aliya’s mixed intelligence, skills, speed and fantastic work rate managed to outclass our opponents and at the end of the game we managed to come out victorious,” said Mpofu.
Outstanding player Golden Valley FC striker, Mac Given Aliya, said he was happy to help his team collect maximum points during the derby match.
” I am delighted to help my team beat CUMA in this derby match and we are now on top of the log,” said Aliya.
CUMA Academy coach, Ignatius Alfonso, accepted the defeat and congratulated Golden Valley FC for winning the game and they are now going to prepare for their next game.
“I would like to congratulate our opponents for winning the derby match. It was not our day and we are now focusing on our next game,” said Alfonso.