Triangle coach David Mandigora was hugely relieved after his side beat Harare City 2-0 at Rufaro stadium on Friday to guarantee them a place in the premiership next year.

With uncertainty over the relegation criteria with the ZIFA councillors recently voting for the relegation of four teams, Triangle were now in danger of demotion should they have lost the game and Chapungu wins against CAPS United on Saturday.

Triangle were on 35 points going into the match and a defeat coupled by a Chapungu win who are on 32 points would have meant the Airmen occupy the safer spot on goal difference.  But first half goals from Kudzai Chirambamuriwo and Malvin Gaki allayed all the fears.

“We needed the three points more than Harare City and I was hugely relieved when we got the victory. We came here needing nothing short of a victory and I am happy that we got it. It was worrisome when results were not coming despite playing well. We now need to sit down with the whole technical and see where we went wrong in the matches we dropped points,” said Mandigora.

Despite the first half being a dull encounter, Triangle found themselves ahead after the half hour mark when Chirambamuriwo was set up inside the box by Gaki to fire a low shot past Kelvin Changiwa in goals for Harare City. 

Triangle were gifted with the second goal when central defender Hastings Chapusha who was the last man toyed with the ball and tried to dribble past Marvellous Mukumba who dispossessed him and squared the ball to Gaki who had an easy tap past the goalkeeper.

Harare City coach Moses Chunga made a triple substitution at halftime bringing in Raphael Manuvire, Farai Madhanhanga and Jerry Chipangura for Tatenda Tumba, Martin Vengesayi and Sean Muneka.  The substitutions didn’t bring any meaningful changes to Harare City as they failed in the final third despite having more possession.