By Alvin Moyo, Football Writer
Herentals U/20 1 0 Ngezi Platinum Stars U/20
Herentals U/20 may not always play the most beautiful football, but they do know how win matches.
At Motor Action Sports Club this afternoon, a slender 1-0 home victory over Ngezi Platinum Stars U/20 was enough to see Paul Benza’s lads shoot to the top of the Northern Region Soccer League for at least 24 hours.
Salif Cheya ensured Herentals ran away with it with a well taken 19th minute goal, but the visitors had the lion’s share of the early possession. Ngezi’s Tinotenda Ditima could have given his side an early lad but scuffed his effort, failing to get a clean connection from a volley after a wonderful delivery with the ‘keeper well beaten.
After this miss, Ngezi literally camped in the hosts half, creating chance after a chance but Herentals remained resolute in defense.
After 15 minutes of this sustained pressure, Herentals Archmore Majarira initiated a move into Ngezi’s final third and managed to earn themselves their first corner kick of the day. Four minutes later and with the hosts beginning to get into their stride, William Gatsi lifted a well weighted pas to Majarira who calmly collected it first time and laid it off sweetly to the diminutive Cheya who made no mistake to give his side the lead.
After this goal, the few football fans in attendance were treated to an action-packed encounter. Both teams created good chances for themselves, but neither was able to get a choke-hold on the match.
Eventually the final result was determined by Cheya’s solitary strike and gave three points to Herentals who look good to cause a major upset in the league this season ahead of stronger, more experienced sides like second placed Simba Bhora and third placed Ngezi U/20.
