Scottland sink FC Oden late to reach Munhumutapa Cup last 16
Scottland sink FC Oden late to reach Munhumutapa Cup last 16
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Defending Premier Soccer League champions Scottland booked their place in the last 16 of the ZIFA Munhumutapa Challenge Cup with a 3-0 win over lower-league FC Oden at Baobab Stadium in Mhondoro-Ngezi on Monday.
The match carried added intrigue as it pitted two former Warriors captains against each other on the touchline, with Norman Mapeza in charge of Scottland and Willard Katsande leading FC Oden.
Scottland came into the tie alert to the risk of a shock exit after fellow PSL heavyweights Highlanders and Dynamos were knocked out by lower-division opposition. FC Oden, for their part, set out to continue that giant-killing run and for long periods looked capable of doing so.
Oden’s Emmanuel Jalai and Nigerian forward Tengeg Neville both hit the woodwork, while Brazilian De Campos Anderson had a first-half penalty saved as the underdogs frustrated the reigning champions and kept the contest scoreless deep into the second half.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 75th minute when substitute Moses Shidolo curled in a well-taken free-kick. Within a minute, fellow second-half replacement Mthokozisi Msebe struck a powerful effort to make it 2-0 and effectively end Oden’s hopes of an upset.
Mapeza then introduced Knowledge Musona and Khama Billiat from the bench, but Scottland had already wrestled control, with their experience and depth proving decisive in the closing stages.
Scottland’s victory ensured they avoided the fate of Dynamos and Highlanders, whose exits have underscored the unpredictability of this season’s Munhumutapa Challenge Cup.
In other results from the competition, MWOS Under-19 beat fellow lower-league side Chatidhege 3-1, while Chilli FC edged Aqua 3-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in regulation time.
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