Alex Royal Tigers tamed by a Black Mask-chasing dream
A smash-and-grab goal from the boot of Panashe Mashingaidze earned Black Mask full points to keep its dream of promotion to the Hollywoodbets League next season alive.
Two red cards and an avalanche of yellows dominated a rather dull match that saw little action on either goal except for a last-minute pounce by Black Mask’s Panashe Mashingaidze to seal a 1–0 victory over arch-rivals Alex Royal Tigers SC at the Alexandra Stadium on June 9.
Read more: Roosevelt Young Stars soccer team diversifies into farming
A total of seven yellow cards, three and four apiece, for Tigers and Mask respectively, were issued by the referee in the entire game, with Tigers’ players Rowan Khazi, and Nemadzavho Mafukata getting yellows.
At the same time, Tigers substitute Keabetwe Seema got a straight red for an early shower after a nasty tackle on fellow Mask substitute Panashe Mashingaidze while Mask’s Chimezie Esonwanne received a yellow for foul play on Nhlanhla Ntuli.
Mask teammate Ndivhuwo Matodzi got his second yellow, and a red card, coupled with marching orders from the field of play while teammate Joshua Dube received a yellow for a foul on Tigers’ number 19, not on the team sheet.
Also read: New soccer competition for Alex schools launches
Incidentally, Tigers’ Khazi got his second booking but was not sent off the field. The first was for rough play on Mashingaidze in the first half though he is registered as a substitute on the team sheet and the second yellow was in the second stanza.
Alex Royal Tigers started the game with two jersey number 13 players on the field and the assistant referee only picked it up close to 20 minutes of play. One of the two players was asked to go and change and returned to the field donning jersey number 12.
There were a few and far in-between close encounters for scoring for both sides in the entire match but Mask’s Mashingaidze struck a smash-and-grab into the back of the net and the entire team and technical staff went on a frenzy and elaborate celebration.
Soon after this goal, play continued for only a few minutes and the referee blew his whistle for full time and the Mask side got away with the full three points as the dearly-prized spoils of the day’s smash-and-grab action.
Related article: Loyo Stars trounces a lacklustre Socca Dream
