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Don Makanyanga in Mhondoro-Ngezi
Ngezi Platinum Stars . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 4
Bulawayo Chiefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2) 2
NGEZI Platinum Stars put up a dominant performance to come back from behind twice and book a place in the quarter-finals of the Chibuku Super Cup with a 4-2 victory over Bulawayo Chiefs in a re-arranged first-round match at Baobab Stadium yesterday.
The hosts showed intent from the first minute and came close to taking the lead as early as the second minute when Marvelous Mukumba had an opportunity, but miscued in front of goal.
Against the run of play, the 2022 Chibuku Super Cup winners took the lead in the fifth minute after Ngezi Platinum Stars’ defence was caught flat-footed with an easy tap-in by Reason Sibanda off a Leeroy Ndlovhu cross.
The goal gave the visitors some confidence as they began infiltrating into the hosts’ half but the final third remained a let-down for Bulawayo Chiefs. Ngezi Platinum Stars had an opportunity to level matters on the quarter-hour mark in a counter-raid when Leslie Kashitigu found Tinotenda Murasiranwa just inside the centre circle.
Murasiranwa broke loose only to hurry his effort in a one-on-one situation and watched his effort going wide.
The hosts’ pressure finally paid dividends in the 20th minute when Bulawayo Chiefs’ Leeroy Ndlovhu beat his goalkeeper from close range in an attempt to play a back pass.
Ngezi Platinum Stars regained their control of the game after the goal and began probing the Bulawayo Chiefs defence.
It was the final third that was the biggest let down for the hosts as chances went begging.
Relying on counter-attacks Bulawayo Chiefs regained the lead five minutes before the break similar to their first goal with the only difference being the characters involved.
It was a carbon copy of the first goal as Ngezi Platinum Stars failed to deal with a cross from the right flank, which saw Bukhosi Sibanda tapping in a Nkosilathi Ncube cross.
Two minutes into added time of the first-half Ngezi Platinum Stars came close to levelling matters through Murasiranwa but the Ngezi Platinum Stars forward had his effort blocked.
Takesure Chiragwi who returned from national duty on Wednesday, brought in former Bulawayo Chiefs striker Obriel Chirinda, Richard Hachiro, and Nigel Makumbe for Murasiranwa, Kudzai Chigwida and Marvelous Mukumba.
Ngezi Platinum Stars levelled matters in the 55th minute when Farai Madhanaga headed in a Makumbe free-kick from the left flank.
Chirinda came close to giving Ngezi Platinum Stars the lead in the 65th minute when he took advantage of a back pass by a Bulawayo Chiefs defender.
It took the quick reaction of Tinotenda Chinoviringa to deny Chirinda a goal in the Chibuku Super Cup.
The second-half substitutes were combined to put Ngezi Platinum Stars upfront for the first time when Makumbe slotted in a Chirinda cross in the 75th minute.
Two minutes later Bulawayo Chiefs conceded another own goal, the second of the afternoon when second-half substitute Charlton Siamalong beat his goalkeeper in a bid to clear a cross from Tanaka Munemo from the right.
Ngezi Platinum Stars assistant coach, Kumbirai Mutiwekuziva praised his charges for the great fighting spirit.
“It was a great performance and great fighting spirit by the players.
“Credit should be given to them for coming twice from behind and I believe that our depth also played a part. “It is great that we have progressed to the next round of the tournament,” said Mutiwekuziva. Having conceded two own goals, Bulawayo Chiefs coach Thulani Sibanda blamed his team’s defeat on individual errors.
“We can attribute this defeat to some individual errors by our players and also Ngezi Platinum Stars have so much depth.
“Their second-half substitution of Richard Hachiro and Obriel Chirinda gave them an edge over us.
“We now go back to the drawing board and concentrate on staying in the league,” said Sibanda.
Online Reporter