Tshakhuma RO United fought hard to earn a 6-5 victory over Tshakhuma Na Ndilani (TNN) in their Amos Charity Tournament match at the Tshakhuma Malaria grounds on Sunday.
Although they were reduced to 10 men 18 minutes into the game, United did not lose cohesion in the middle of the park. Instead, they continued to fight like a wounded tiger, creating some dangerous moves from behind. Their striker, Ipfi Muthubi, was given his marching orders after a dangerous tackle on Saddam Matodzi.
Takalani "Franco" Ratshilima, United's left winger, was booked for obstructing Gift Nemutandani in the 26th minute. United came close to scoring in the 34th minute, when their overlapping defender, Asivhanzhi Muthubi, tried his luck from the edge of the box. The ball hit the crossbar and bounced outside the field of play for a goal kick.
Dakalo "Akonkwo" Nemakonde, TNN's energetic striker, could not live up to the fans' expectations because he was tightly marked. The only time Nemakonde threatened to score was when he unleashed a volley from the 25-meter area, but the ball went far wide.
TNN used all their substitution chances. They replaced Aaron Sithole, Oscar Ntshauba and Junior Mashavhathakha with Ndamulelo Mukwevho, Hulani Mphephu and Rotondwa Rammela respectively. Ndamulelo Mukwevho was warned with a card for handling the ball intentionally shortly after his introduction.
United missed two clear chances in the dying minutes of the game. The scoreboard was still blank when regulation time came to an end and the winner was determined through penalty shootout. RO United converted six of their chances through Lindelani Mukomafhedzi, Thivhulawi Silima, Ndivhuwo Makhado, Khuthadzo Mukomafhedzi, Asivhanzhi Muthubi and Ronny Matodzi, while TNN managed to score five from the white spot.