Chronicle Editor
Fungai Muderere, fungai.muderere@bmetro
A TOTAL of 16 goals were scored in the Week 18 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) matches over the weekend to take the season’s tally to 302 after the same number of games.
Before the clubs’ Saturday and Sunday engagements, 286 goals had been scored in 285 matches. On MatchDay 18, six home goals were scored by Chegutu Pirates, TelOne, Bulawayo Chiefs, Ngezi Platinum Stars, Simba Bhora and Yadah Stars. Nine strikes were scored by Highlanders, FC Platinum, ZPC Kariba, Greenfuel and Hwange away from their bases.
Defending champions FC Platinum were the biggest winners of the weekend after they thumped Chegutu Pirates 3-1 at Baobab Stadium. It was a result that saw Pure Platinum Play open a five-point gap at the top of the table. The visiting Zvishavane-based platinum miners reportedly took advantage of poor defending by the hosts to consolidate their pole position and they are now on 38 points.
They are five points clear of the chasing pack, with nearest rivals Ngezi Platinum Stars and Simba Bhora moving to 33 points apiece after winning their matches at the weekend. Ngezi Platinum Stars compounded Arenel Movers’ woes when they edged them 1-0 courtesy of an Obriel Chirinda strike. Chirinda is now on four goals in the same number of matches.
Bulawayo football giants, Highlanders, completed a league double against Dynamos after dismissing them 2-0 at Rufaro Stadium. McKinnon Mushore and Godfrey Makaruse found the target for Bosso and it was a feat that saw Kelvin Kaindu’s men do a double over DeMbare for the first time after six years.
“I think there is nothing better in the league than for you to do a double against Dynamos. We managed to score two goals and we kept a clean sheet,” said Kaindu. Bosso and DeMbare remained unchanged on the log standings, with the former moving to 29 points in fifth position. The Glamour Boys remained sixth with 24 points, 14 behind log leaders FC Platinum.
The defeat to Bosso also piled pressure on DeMbare coach, Genesis Mangombe as well as the club’s management, who have been under the spotlight after players boycotted four days of training last week. “It’s so painful and as a coach, you don’t want to lose six points to the same team in one season.
“But it’s a game of football. At times we have these results,” said Mangombe. Week 18 league action produced three away wins (Dynamos 0-2 Highlanders, Chegutu Pirates 1-3 FC Platinum, Bikita Minerals 0-1 Herentals) and the same number of stalemates (Chicken Inn 0-0 CAPS United, TelOne 1-1 ZPC Kariba, Yadah 1-1 Hwange)
There were three home triumphs (Bulawayo Chiefs 2-1 Greenfuel, Ngezi Platinum Stars 1-0 Arenel Movers, Simba Bhora 1-0 Manica Diamonds).
Six clubs, DeMbare, Gamecocks, Makepekepe, Bikita Minerals, Arenel Movers and Manica Diamonds failed to find the back of the net.
PSL Week 18 Results
Dynamos 0-2 Highlanders, Chicken Inn 0-0 CAPS United, Chegutu Pirates 1-3 FC Platinum, TelOne 1 ZPC Kariba 1, Bulawayo Chiefs 2 Greenfuel 1, Bikita Minerals 0 Herentals 1, Ngezi Platinum Stars 1 Arenel Movers 0, Simba Bhora 1 Manica Diamonds 0, Yadah 1 Hwange. — @FungaiMuderere.
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