Awelani "Miller" Mphigalale was a marvel to watch when his team, Berea FC, beat Tshiungani Young Chiefs 2-1 in their MMK Administrators Soccer League match at the Zwigodini Grounds on Saturday. Mphigalale scored a brace in the game.
While Young Chiefs had nothing more than pride at stake in the match, the game was a matter of life and death for Berea.
It took Berea 15 minutes to stamp their authority. Mphigalale beat the offside trap and blasted in a rocket from inside the box. The players and officials of Young Chiefs confronted the match officials in anger after the goal. They accused the match officials of favouritism, saying Mphigalale had been in an offside position when he had received the pre-cooked pass from his captain, Dzivhuluwani Simba.
The match officials stood firmly by their decision and finally the Chiefs players surrendered and continued with the game as if nothing happened. Muneiwa Manngwe of Young Chiefs was booked for dangerous play in the 24th minute. Young Chiefs effected the first change to their starting 11 two minutes afterwards. They replaced Rudzani Mphidi with Takalani Tshitangoni.
The home side responded by introducing Elias Ranyaoa, who came on for Tshilidzi Mulaudzi towards the end of the first half. Berea could have scored at least four goals in the last half but the Chiefs' keeper, Fhulufhedzani Ndou, denied them numerous sure goals. Ndou made his presence felt in the 54th minute when he palmed Elias Ranyaoa's volley away for a corner kick.
Adonia Mudau of Chiefs was warned with a card for getting off the field of play without the referee's consent. A substitute, Edwin Ramphabana, forced his way through the defence of Chiefs in the 67th minute and dished a neat pass to Awelani Mphigalale, who completed his brace with a ground cutter. The visitors pulled one back through Adonia Mudau later in the game.