In their SAB League match at the Hamutoti grounds on Sunday, United Artists kept their title hopes alive by beating Mutoti Young Aces 3-0.

Aces played entertaining football from behind throughout the game, but their strikers fumbled at the goal finish. It took the hosts nine minutes to realize that it was not their day. Their frontrunner, Wisani Marima, could not live up to his reputation as a natural striker, because he was tightly marked by Maduvha Mudologi.

The visitors from Lufule village gained momentum as the game progressed. Their efforts paid dividends when they were awarded a penalty in the 24th minute. Jeffrey Mungoni was obstructed within the box and the referee, Mr Eric Munyai, did not hesitate to point at the white spot. The team’s captain, Maduvha Mudologi, took it upon himself to take the penalty.

The goal did no demoralize Young Aces as they continued to play like a united team, creating some promising moves from the middle of the park. United Artists increased the margin in the 39th minute. This after Young Aces started to set offside-traps. Thabelo Mudau beat the offside-trap and sent the Aces keeper, Zwodangani Tshivhenga, the wrong way. The score was 2-0 when the referee blew the half-time whistle.

United Artists replaced Mashudu Tshitahe and the injured team’s captain, Maduvha Mudologi, with Tony Mudzungwane and Murunwa Ramuada. Although Aces also effected three changes to their starting line-up late in the game, that was not good enough to stop Artists from scoring their third goal.

A substitute, Tony Mudzungwane, scored the third with a header, following a corner kick that was taken by Jeffrey Mungoni.