Khubvi Peace Makers smoked no peace pipe with Makonde Home Defenders and beat them 4-1 in their MTG KO competition match at the Khubvi Benjies grounds on Sunday.
Home Defenders committed suicide by allowing their bulldozer striker, Ipfi Muthubi, to play a full game even though it was evident from the onset that he was out of form.
Vhutshilo Makungo, the Home Defenders' keeper, was the busiest player on the field of play. In the 7th minute he braved Witness Rakuambo's shot and kicked the ball away for a corner kick. Home Defenders strengthened their striking force by introducing Shadrack Rikhotso, who replaced Mulisa Silimela in the 24th minute.
Thihanedzwi Mbedzi of Peace Makers was cautioned with a card following an illegal tackle on Tshimangadzo Maswime. Both sides squandered obvious scoring chances towards the end of the first half.
Peace Makers had their regret in the 38th minute. Witness Rakuambo watched in disbelief as his close-range ground cutter went far wide.
Khathutshelo Mbedzi of Home Defenders had his chance three minutes afterwards. He received a neat pass from Aluwani Museda and unleashed aimlessly from inside the box. The ball missed the target by inches, much to the fans' disappointment. Tshimangadzo Maswime of Home Defenders was also booked for dangerous play on the stroke of half time.
Realizing that it was difficult for them to penetrate through the opposition defence, the team's played defensive football for the better part of the last stanza. The scoreboard was still blank when the referee blew the final whistle. The winner was determined through penalty shootout. Peace Makers converted four from the white spot while Home Defenders scored only one.