By Tapiwa Chawagarira
CHIREDZI— Blanket Mine FC produced the shock of the ZIFA Munhumutapa Challenge Cup Round of 16 as they edged Triangle United 4-3 on penalties following a pulsating 2-2 draw at Gibbo Stadium on Sunday, becoming the only non-Premier Soccer League side to reach the quarter-finals.
The miners showed remarkable character against the top-flight side, twice taking the lead before eventually holding their nerve in the penalty shootout to complete one of the standout giant-killing acts of the inaugural competition.
Ali Maliselo gave Blanket Mine a dream start when he scored in the sixth minute, but Triangle responded through in-form forward Tawanda Chatuluka, who netted twice in quick succession in the 10th and 16th minutes to turn the contest around.
With the hosts appearing to have seized control of the match, Blanket Mine refused to buckle under pressure. Mathew Hlabati scored in the 53rd minute to restore parity, setting up a tense finish at a packed Gibbo Stadium.
Neither side could find a decisive goal, forcing the match into a penalty shootout, where Blanket Mine held their nerve to claim a 4-3 victory and book a historic place in the last eight.
The result completed a dramatic weekend of Round of 16 action in the competition, which had entered the weekend with teams from different levels of Zimbabwean football still in contention. The Round of 16 was played from August 28 to 30, with eight places in the quarter-finals at stake.
Blanket Mine’s achievement is particularly significant as all the other lower-division sides have now fallen by the wayside, leaving the miners as the sole non-PSL survivors in the race for the inaugural title.
In Harare, CAPS United joined the quarter-finalists after a convincing 2-0 victory over Manica Diamonds at Rufaro Stadium.
Davison Marowa opened the scoring in the 25th minute before Junior Bunjira sealed the Green Machine’s progress with a second goal in the 70th minute.
CAPS United’s progression continues an impressive cup run for the Harare giants, who had earlier announced themselves as serious contenders with a dominant 6-0 victory over Scottland’s developmental side in the competition.
At Luveve Stadium, Hardrock FC underlined their ambitions with a ruthless 5-1 demolition of Jordan.
Gerald Takwara opened the scoring in the 21st minute, and Washington Navaya doubled the advantage two minutes later. Jordan pulled one back through Bukhosi Nqobo, but Hardrock turned on the style in the second half.
Neliswa Dlamini struck in the 73rd minute, Thubelihle Mavuso added another five minutes later, before Wilfred Madzungu completed the scoring in the 85th minute.
Hardrock entered the match aware of the dangers posed by their lower-division opponents, as the Round of 16 had already produced warnings for several Premiership clubs about the unpredictability of knockout football.
The complete list of quarter-finalists is now confirmed, with Blanket Mine, Bulawayo Chiefs, CAPS United, FC Hunters, FC Platinum, Hardrock, Herentals and Scottland all advancing.
FC Hunters, FC Platinum, Herentals, Bulawayo Chiefs and Scottland had secured their places on Saturday, with the official competition results confirming victories over Hwange, Blackrock, Ngezi Platinum, Chili and MWOS Under-19 respectively.
The quarter-finals are scheduled for October 2 to 4, with the surviving eight clubs now waiting to discover their next opponents in what is shaping up to be an increasingly competitive battle for the inaugural Munhumutapa Challenge Cup crown.
For Blanket Mine, however, the task has only just begun.
As the lone non-PSL club left standing, the miners now carry the hopes of the lower divisions into the quarter-finals and have already proven that in knockout football, determination, discipline, and belief can be enough to bridge the gap between divisions.
