By Tapiwa Chawagarira
THE inaugural US$16,000 Dream Inn-GMI Super 8 Challenge Cup produced a weekend of major upsets, with several of the Central Region Soccer League’s top teams crashing out of the competition as the race for the lucrative prize intensified.
Kwekwe United, Blanket Mine, and Chapungu all saw their hopes of lifting the inaugural title dashed, while West Nicholson survived a dramatic penalty shootout to join the last four.
Kwekwe United suffered one of the weekend’s biggest shocks, falling 2-0 to Super Strikers, who secured their place in the semi-finals with a commanding victory.
Blanket Mine were also eliminated in dramatic fashion, being held to a 1-1 draw by Grain Tigers before losing 12-11 on penalties in a marathon shootout.
There was more penalty drama in the clash between West Nicholson and Gwanda Pirates, with the sides drawing 1-1 before West Nicholson eventually prevailed 11-10 in the shootout.
Tongogara completed the semi-final line-up by edging Chapungu 2-1 in regulation time.
The results have left Super Strikers, Grain Tigers, West Nicholson, and Tongogara as the final four contenders in the inaugural competition.
The weekend’s results underline the unpredictable nature of cup football, as established sides were unable to reproduce their league form when the stakes were raised.
The Dream Inn-GMI Super 8 Challenge Cup was introduced for the Central Region’s leading sides, adding another layer of competition to a league campaign already marked by a closely fought promotion battle.
With three of the four quarter-finals decided by either penalties or a one-goal margin, the competition now heads into the semi-finals, with the remaining quartet sensing a genuine opportunity to claim the inaugural crown.
