HARARE - Castle Lager Premiership’s leading scorer Nelson Maziwisa netted a quick-fire double in the last 10 minutes to end Shabanie Mine’s three-game losing run when they beat Monomotapa yesterday.

Maziwisa, whose brace yesterday took him to 15 goals for the season, scored his first goal nine minutes from fulltime.

Monomotapa goalkeeper Artwell Mukandi under no pressure at all bizarrely handled a back pass from Melson Nelson prompting referee Brighton Chimene to award an indirect freekick.

Maziwisa fired home the set-piece after substitute Francis Kanda had teed him up.

Maziwisa, who last scored on August 5 in the 2-0 home win over Gunners, completed his brace when the Monomotapa goalie failed to cut a corner by Ray Sibanda three minutes from time.

The double by Maziwisa, was a timely lesson in the art of finishing punishing a wasteful Monomotapa, who wasted a glut of clear chances particularly in the opening half.

In the 51st minute, the home side had taken the lead in controversial circumstances through the diminutive Ronald Chitiyo, who appeared to have used his hand to score.

Assistant referee Tendai Chavhanga flagged for handball but the goal stood after he was overruled by referee Chimene.

After their opener, Monomotapa lost concentration and were deservedly punished by Maziwisa’s late double strike.

After the game, Shabanie coach Luke Masomere declared that the league race was no longer a two-horse race.
“Shabanie Mine is also putting a strong title challenge. It is no longer a two-horse race. When they scored through a handball I knew that God would help us,” said Masomere.

Monomotapa coach Biggie Zuze, who took over from Taurai Mangwiro five games ago, attributed the defeat to poor finishing and lack of concentration at the back.

“We could have wrapped the match in the first half. We created three clear chances. We can’t give up because we still have 10 games to play. We lost concentration in the closing minutes,” Zuze said.