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Chicken Inn FC were knocked out of the Chibuku Super Cup on Sunday after Highlanders won a dramatic penalty shootout 3-1 following a goalless draw at Barbourfields Stadium, but the Gamecocks can take plenty of encouragement from a determined performance in which they defended bravely and remained competitive throughout the 90 minutes.
The first-round Bulawayo Derby lived up to its billing as a tense and closely fought encounter, with both teams having opportunities but neither able to find the decisive goal. Chicken Inn eventually had to play the closing stages with 10 men after Tyrese was shown a red card, yet the Gamecocks held on to force the match into a shootout.
Chicken Inn started the afternoon in their black and red stripe and defended the Mpilo End first, with both sides initially taking their time to settle into the derby. The Gamecocks looked composed in possession and were prepared to build patiently rather than rush their attacks.
Their first promising opportunity came in the eighth minute when Chicken Inn won a free kick in the Highlanders half. Majika delivered a good ball into the box, but Hapmo's header went wide as the Gamecocks looked to make their early pressure count.
Majika continued to be involved in Chicken Inn's attacking play, producing a lovely switch of play towards Charamba in the 17th minute. Charamba made a good run, although the move was eventually stopped by an offside decision.
Chicken Inn then won their first corner of the afternoon, with Majika again providing the delivery. His cross found Tyrese, whose header went wide. Highlanders attempted to play out from the back afterwards and forced a corner of their own, but Itai was alert enough to clear the danger.
The Gamecocks continued to look dangerous as the first half progressed. Makunike, Majika and Gary combined well before Charamba joined the move, although his cross was delivered with too much power.
Chicken Inn came again through Innocent and Majika, with Majika seeing another cross blocked for a corner. The resulting delivery was cleared but fell back to Charamba, whose attempted cross was also blocked before another corner followed. Highlanders goalkeeper Arusha eventually collected the ball.
Majika was at the centre of another Chicken Inn opportunity in the 29th minute when the Gamecocks won a free kick in Highlanders territory. The midfielder went directly for goal, but Arusha was well positioned to collect the attempt.
Chicken Inn continued to show good movement through midfield, with Tulani, Rendo and Majika combining through a series of neat passing triangles in the 37th minute. The ball was eventually worked back towards Mpumelelo before Gary was brought down.
The resulting free kick was cleverly taken, but Highlanders' defenders read the situation well and prevented Chicken Inn from turning the opportunity into a clear chance.
As the first half approached its conclusion, Chicken Inn continued to search for the breakthrough. Innocent produced a good pass towards Charamba, but Arusha made a timely clearance to deny the Gamecocks' attack.
The two teams went into the interval level at 0-0, with Chicken Inn having shown enough attacking intent to suggest that a breakthrough could come if they became more clinical in the second half.
The intensity continued after the restart. Chicken Inn remained organised and attempted to move the ball around the Highlanders defence, while Bosso looked for ways to create openings.
Charamba had an opportunity in the second half when he got a shot away, but the effort lacked power and Arusha was able to collect it quickly. Highlanders then moved forward and appealed for a penalty, but the referee was unmoved and allowed play to continue.
Chicken Inn continued to work the ball around in search of an opening. A combination between Charamba and Rendo created another attacking situation, although one touch too many allowed Highlanders to win possession and attempt a counter-attack.
The Gamecocks remained disciplined defensively, however, and dealt with the threat before it could develop.
Highlanders then produced one of their more dangerous moments through Mongameli, forcing Chicken Inn to defend under pressure. The Gamecocks survived the situation before breaking forward themselves, with a shot forcing Arusha into another save.
Then came the biggest setback of the afternoon for Chicken Inn.
Tyrese was shown a second yellow card and sent off in the 75th minute, leaving the Gamecocks with 10 players for the closing stages of the derby.
The numerical disadvantage made the final minutes more difficult, with Highlanders able to push more players forward and spend longer periods inside the Chicken Inn half. But the Gamecocks showed tremendous character.
Rather than allowing the pressure to overwhelm them, Chicken Inn defended as a unit and dealt with dangerous deliveries into the box. One particularly threatening cross was survived before the ball eventually went out for a goal kick.
Chicken Inn also made a change, bringing on Tsinakwadi for Hapmo as they looked to freshen up the team during the closing stages.
Highlanders continued to press, but Chicken Inn refused to surrender. The Gamecocks remained organised until the final whistle, ensuring that the match stayed goalless despite the numerical disadvantage.
When the referee brought the 90 minutes to an end, the scoreboard still read 0-0. With neither side able to break the deadlock, the Chibuku Super Cup first-round tie had to be decided from the penalty spot.
The shootout ultimately went Highlanders' way, with Bosso winning 3-1 on penalties to secure their place in the next round. For Chicken Inn, the result was disappointing after such a determined effort, but the manner in which the Gamecocks stayed in the contest — particularly after going down to 10 men — was a positive sign.
Chicken Inn created opportunities during the match, especially through Majika's deliveries and the movement of Charamba, while the combinations involving Makunike, Gary, Innocent, Tulani and Rendo showed that the Gamecocks were capable of producing good attacking football against their city rivals.
Most importantly, the defensive resilience displayed after Tyrese's dismissal demonstrated the character within the side. Playing against Highlanders with a numerical disadvantage in the closing stages was never going to be easy, yet Chicken Inn stood firm and forced the match all the way to penalties.
The Chibuku Super Cup campaign may now be over for the Gamecocks, following their earlier Munhumutapa Challenge Cup exit, but the focus can immediately turn towards the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League and another meeting with Highlanders.
The two sides are scheduled to meet again on August 19, giving Chicken Inn an immediate opportunity to respond and turn Sunday's fighting performance into a positive league result.
The Gamecocks will know there are areas to improve, particularly in front of goal, but Sunday's derby showed that they possess the organisation, determination and fighting spirit to compete in difficult matches.
For Chicken Inn, the message now is simple: recover, regroup and move forward.
The penalties may have sent them out of the Chibuku Super Cup, but the 0-0 performance over 90 minutes — especially the resilience shown with 10 men — gives the Gamecocks something to build on as the league campaign continues.
Source: CIFC Media Team