IT was two points dropped rather than a point gained for Mutare City Rovers as they surrendered a 3-0 lead to settle for a stalemate in a six goal thriller played at Sakubva stadium.

With expectations from their fans sky high after that impressive win away at Barboufields in Bulawayo against Highlanders on Thursday, all eyes were on Taku Shariwa and his men to prove that it was not a fluke.

Accordingly, the hosts were in total control of things from the onset and could have surged ahead with only six minutes into the match when impressive City Rovers top man Agrippa Murimba got to the end of a counter attack, controlled the ball well in the box before blasting his effort over the cross bar.

City Rovers then benefited from the 18th minute injury inspired substitution that brought in jittery reserve goalkeeper Nickel Marichi for Chang Marioni.  Thus Gusha Bhora, as City Rovers are adoringly referred to by their fans in Mutare, got it right in the 20th minute when Kudakwashe Gurure placed the ball home from close range after a neat exchange of passes between with Bright Majamanda.

Murimba doubled the lead for the home team with a beauty just two minutes before the break after the former Harare City player dribbled past Thandolwenkosi Ncube and beat hapless Marichi, in goal for the visitors.

City Rovers appeared to be on the path to an emphatic triumph after veteran midfielder Wonder Sithole drilled home a blistering 25 metre drive that left Marichi well beaten.

However, the complexion of the game suddenly changed soon after Sithole, the man who was doing all the donkey work for Rovers in the midfield, was substituted for Hebron Makukutu as the later turned out to be a mere passenger.

Tsholotsho started dominating play in the midfield and their prayers were answered in the 74th minute when McClive Phiri pulled one back for the visiting outfit.

Nicholas Mundandishe rose from the bench to punish the team that rejected him by scoring a brace to level terms for the relegation threatened clubs.

Mundandishe first found the target with a stunning header that beat Victor Twaliki in the 88th minute before shoving the ball home from close range with just two minutes of regulation time remaining.

City Rovers gaffer Taku Shariwa said he had no choice but to make the substitutions he made because the players he withdrew were showing clear signs of fatigue.

“It is sad that we had to surrender the lead but that is what happens in a game of football. We conceded soft goals and it’s sad that it had to end this way.

“I had no choice we just had to make the substitutions. If you look at it all the players that substituted, they are not 90 minutes players,” said Shariwa.

His opposite number, Lizwe Sweswe said the change of tactics paid for his team.

“I think we made the right chances to our attacking formation and they just did not realise that.

“I kept on telling my players that even in 15 minutes we can score four goals hence it worked well for us,’ said the Tsholotsho mentor.

Teams:
Mutare City Rovers: V Twaliki; M Taptatapa; V Madamombe; B Majamanda; W Mpfumo; M Sako; C Chandongonda; W Sithole (H Makukutu 67th minute); K Gurure (80th minute); S Muchabaya; A Murimba (C Masocha 73 minute):

Tsholotsho: C Mariyoni (N Marichi 18th minute); C Phiri; N Moyo; T Ncube; S Dube; N Gama (N Mundandishe, 56th minute); R Mufudza (D Chirwa 60th minute); Z Moyo; B Madanhire; C Dhuwa; B Sibanda;