Harare City coach Moses ‘Bambo’ Chunga contends that his side was lucky to beat Bulawayo City 2-1 in a Castle Larger premiership match at Rufaro stadium on Friday.

Harare City got two goals in the last ten minutes of the match including a goal from a contentious penalty to give Chunga a reprieve after last week’s defeat to Dynamos.

Ronald Chitiyo pounced on a Munyaradzi Diro Nyenye free kick in the 80th minute with Bulawayo City defence at sea to fire past Ndodana Sibanda from close range.

Five minutes later Chitiyo’s goal bound shot was blocked on the line by Brian Chikwenya but referee Thabani Bamala pointed to the penalty spot before giving a straight red card to Chikwenya. Substitute William Manondo took the responsibility beating Sibanda with a low shot. However television replays showed that Chikwenya did not handle the ball but used his shoulder to block the ball.

Chunga whose stay at the Sunshine Boys has been subject to speculation was the first to admit that his side needed lady luck to overcome a determined Bulawayo City.

“We were lucky to win this game because we didn’t play our normal type of game. We didn’t come to the party. It’s unlike the previous match where we dominated but lost. In this match we didn’t play and we have to thank Tafadzwa Dube for keeping us in the game with a number of saves,” said Chunga.

Bulawayo City had dominated the first half with Trevor Ndlovu and Mkhululi Moyo forcing Dube to make a string of saves in the early stages of the match.

With Amakhosi pressing hard, Harare City looked dangerous on counter attacks with goals from Chitiyo and Diro Nyenye ruled out for offside.

Morris Kadzola put Bulawayo City ahead on the stroke of halftime with a clinical finish. Amakhosi broke on a swift counter attack with Trevor Ndlovu squaring the ball to Kadzola who pressed the ball into the far left corner past Dube.

Bulawayo City interim coach Try Ncube was disappointed with the result.

“We are gutted. We played well and should have finished them off in the first half. In the second half we didn’t play well, we defended too deep and allowed them to get an equaliser. But the second goal to us we feel we were hard done. It wasn’t a penalty but such is football, it is cruel at times,” said Ncube.