Mensah’s Last-Gasp Heroics Salvage a Point for the Punters
A moment of sheer drama in second-half stoppage time saw MWOS FC snatch a dramatic late equaliser to share the spoils with Manica Diamonds in a 1-1 draw at a tense Sakubva Stadium. Wilson Mensah emerged as the saviour, coming off the bench to ensure the Punters avoided a devastating defeat and ended a challenging encounter with a hard-fought point.
The result extends our run to seven matches without a victory, a period that has yielded just three points from a possible twenty-one. Despite the concerning form, the character shown to fight until the final whistle provides a crucial foundation to build upon as we seek to turn our fortunes around in the league.
Faced with the absence of the injured Valentine Katsande, gaffer Lloyd Mutasa was forced into a defensive reshuffle, handing a start to young Clive Kwangwari at right-back. The academy graduate rose to the occasion magnificently, turning in a standout, composed performance that belied his years and effectively nullified the threat down his flank.
The Punters began the tie with clear intent, fielding an attacking trident of Arthur Banda, Nigel Matinha, and Tafadzwa George. They were serviced by a star-studded engine room comprising the combative Tinotenda Mutyambizi, the metronomic Matthew Sergio Murambiwa, the tricky Malvern Mudzuka, and the industrious Abubakar Moffat, who collectively controlled large periods of the midfield battle.
Despite enjoying spells of possession and creating several promising openings, the first half was a story of missed opportunities for the travelling side. A plethora of chances went begging as the final touch eluded the forward line, leaving the sides deadlocked at the interval in a frustrating stalemate.
The match exploded into life in the 77th minute when Manica Diamonds’ Chivandire rose highest from a corner kick, powerfully heading home to break the deadlock and seemingly condemn MWOS to another bitter defeat. It was a sucker punch from a set piece that looked to have stolen all three points for the hosts.
However, this squad has built a reputation on its resilience. Deep into added time, the Punters launched one final, desperate assault. The architect was Tinotenda Mutyambizi, who drove forward before sliding a perfectly weighted, defence-splitting pass into the path of the onrushing Wilson Mensah. The substitute kept his nerve, slotting the ball coolly past the onrushing keeper to send the travelling supporters into raptures and steal a point at the death.
Speaking after the final whistle, Vice-Captain Innocent Zambezi struck an optimistic tone, stating, “A draw is a good result, as it gives us room for improvement. The next step after a draw is a win, and this is the belief we will take forward.”
Gaffer Lloyd Mutasa echoed this sentiment, expressing immense pride in his team’s never-say-die attitude. “I have to admire the winning mentality of the boys today,” he said. “To fight back like that in the dying moments shows the character we have in this dressing room. We keep believing, and the results will come.”
The point sees MWOS FC maintain their position in the upper echelons of the table, sitting fourth as the campaign continues. The focus now shifts to converting this battling draw into a much-needed victory as we look to get our season back on track.