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Caps United 0-1 Ngezi Platinum
A 10-MAN Ngezi Platinum Stars cut the gap with log leaders Highlanders to two points in a hard won victory against Caps United at Bata Stadium in Gweru.
Highlanders are in action today with bottom placed Black Rhinos.
A solitary strike by veteran player Qadr Amini on the verge of half-time was enough for the platinum miners to collect maiximum points.
“We are not worried about Highlanders, we are worried about improving Ngezi Platinum Stars.
“What we need is to improve the team and remain consistent and collect maximum points and see what happens,” said Chiragwi.
He admitted that it was not any easy game for his charges praising his skipper Amini for making the difference.
“It’s not easy to collect points from teams like Caps United and worse still away from home.
“He (Amini) wants the team to win and for him to score that solitary goal and give us maximum points.
“Taking matters in his own hands, showing that kind of leadership tells you a lot about a player he is,” said the Ngezi Platinum Stars.
After watching his charges wasting a lot of chances, Lloyd Chitembwe felt had his forwards been clinical in front of goals they could have won the match.
“Losing a game brings disappointments. We started a bit low but after some changes in the second half we started creating chances and with a little bit of lucky I think we could have won the match,” said Chitembwe.
The platinum miners were a more offensive side in the opening stages of the match piling pressure on Caps United.
They were unlucky not to have found the back of the net in the opening five minutes when Bruno Mtigo saw his header crashing on the cross bar in the first minute before Amini saw his well struck free-kick in the fifth minute was punched for a corner kick by Ashley Reyners in goals for Caps United.
With the platinum boys enjoying an early dominance, Caps were forced to defend deep.
But the experienced Caps United team managed to diffuse the pressure settling in the game and started matching the Ngezi Platinum Stars prowess.
With Caps United having to rely on counter attack raids in the early stages of the match, the hosts came close to getting an opener when Clive Rupiya managed to tussle the ball from Ngezi Platinum Stars defender Polite Moyo just outside the box before unleashing a powerful grounder which missed the target by a few inches.
Moments before Ngezi Platinum Stars’ failed attack saw Tapiwa Mandinyenya’s cross finding no takers inside the Caps United box.
The long clearance by the Caps United defence found Courage Nyathi on the left flank, beating his markers to send in powerful grounder which missed the far post by a few inches.
From then on action swung from both ends with either side creating some goal scoring opportunities only to be let down by their final third.
Amini was to give the visitors a lead a minute into injury time of the first half when he struck from a freekick just outside the box.
In his bid to get an equaliser Caps United coach, Lloyd Chitembwe made a double substitution at the start of the second-half bringing William Manondo and Rodwell Chinyengetere for Hastings Chapusha and Clive Rupiya.
The duo gave some urgency and options for Caps United upfront but the platinum miners defence remained resolute.
It was to be a carbon copy of the first half in which chances were created but the final third remained the biggest let down.
Ngezi Platinum Stars second-half substitute Delic released Tatenda Benhura on the right flank deep inside the Caps United half.
The young forward could have handed the visitors a two goal advantage but Reyners was equal to the task to make superb save in a one on one situation.
Ngezi Platinum Stars were to be reduced to 10-men five minutes before the end of the match when second -half substitution Mcdonald Makuwe was shown his second yellow card for the afternoon.
Online Reporter