HARARE - Hardbody had two players seriously injured but still managed to beat Motor Action at Ascot Stadium yesterday.

Cornelius Simango and Nhlanhla Ncube were both rushed to hospital in separate incidents.
 
Ncube fractured his left leg after colliding with a Motor Action defender and was quickly whisked away to hospital by paramedics.

The ambulance was recalled to the stadium before it reached the hospital after Simango went down in a heap under challenge from Merciful Ncube.

However, the injuries could not dampen the celebratory mood in the Hardbody camp after the Gweru side dominated former Zimbabwe champions Motor Action for the better part of the match.

Hardbody started the match strongly and could have gotten a goal in the opening minute when Jacob
Muzokomba got to the end of a defence-splitting pass from Roy Useni, but he shot weakly at Mighty Bulls goalkeeper Ronald Mudimu.

The opener came on 11 minutes through Malvern Nyakabangwe.

Lively Nhlanhla Ncube, who had a good game before succumbing to injury in the second half, turned Morris Kadzola inside out on the left flank before sending in a deep cross which Clifford Nyoni, who was lurking on the blind side, connected.

The effort was punched back into play by Mudimu. Nyakabangwe, who was stationed inside the box, reacted faster than Motor Action defenders and released a powerful shot past Mudimu.

The Gweru side continued to enjoy a fair share of possession with Brian Juru and Jacob Muzokomba getting the better of Edward Tembo and James Jam in the midfield.

Motor Action strikers Norman Maroto and Yves Ebabali Esisa were starved of the ball and spent the first 40 minutes chasing shadows.

Hardbody increased their lead against the run of play on 37 minutes when right-back Piniel Manhope headed in a cross from left-back Useni.

The home side went on a counter-attack and Useni swung in a highball.

Manhope out-jumped Motor Action defenders to score his second goal since joining the club in the mid-season transfer window.

After the breather, Motor Action coach Joey Antipas brought in Merciful Ncube for the ineffective Edward Tembo, and the move ignited some urgency in the Mighty Bulls play, but there was little to show for it.

“We were completely out of this game,” said Antipas.

“We gave them too much space and they punished us. We tried to come back in the second half but the damage was already done and for us it’s back to the drawing board.” - Sports Writer