Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi eddie.chikamhi @zimpapers.co.zw
CAPS United 0-0 FC Platinum
CAPS United walked away with the top spot yesterday, but there was little celebration at Rufaro.
Three straight draws now sit beside their name and this one will hurt more because they had enough chances to put the game to bed long before the final whistle.
For the third match in a row, Makepekepe controlled large parts of the proceedings but failed where it mattered most. After stalemates against MWOS and Simba Bhora, yesterday brought another frustrating afternoon as FC Platinum escaped Harare with a point from a goalless draw.
CAPS moved to 28 points, one ahead of Hardrock, whose abandoned match against Dynamos now heads for a boardroom decision after the violence at Chahwanda Stadium on Sunday. But the table hardly reflected the mood around Rufaro.
This felt like points left on the pitch.
With coach Takesure Chiragwi away on national team duty, caretaker Ian Bakala watched his side create enough opportunities to win comfortably, only for poor finishing to continue haunting them.
“This is not the result we expected, considering how the team performed,” said Bakala.
“We did almost everything right and our preparation showed that we wanted it more.
“The only thing we didn’t do was score. It’s a painful draw even though we got a point. We just have to work harder ahead of the next game.”
CAPS came out with intent and should have been ahead within the opening stages. Chawananga Kaonga found space but dragged his effort wide before Ishmael Wadi whipped a dangerous ball across the goal moments later.
Then came the miss that summed up the afternoon.
Takunda Benhura somehow failed to connect properly with a simple chance in front of the goal before Talent Chamboko lifted his effort over from close range as frustration started creeping into the stands.
Richard Hachiro came closest to breaking the deadlock midway through the first half when his powerful strike from distance rattled the upright.
Brett Amidu was at the centre of much of CAPS United’s best football. He moved the ball well, found spaces and linked play smartly as FC Platinum spent long spells pinned inside their own half. But all the movement and possession brought no reward.
FC Platinum looked uncomfortable early on but gradually settled into the contest.
Garikai Dematsika did much of the hard work in midfield, breaking up play and helping close spaces around Hachiro, Amidu and Lloyd Njaliwa. Behind him, goalkeeper Raphael Pitisi produced the kind of performance that keeps teams alive in difficult away matches.
Pitisi organised his defence well, dealt confidently with pressure and made several important interventions on his way to the LuckyBets Man of the Match award.
The visitors grew into the game after the break and suddenly looked more dangerous. Jarisson Selemani added pace and urgency after coming on and FC Platinum started asking questions of their own.
Coach Joel Luphahla admitted his side spent much of the first half chasing the game.
“I think it was a game of two halves. CAPS United had a better first half and we panicked a little,” he said.
“We gave them too much space and their overloads were hurting us.
“In the second half, we changed to a back three and it gave us more stability. We became ourselves and started moving the ball better.
“We survived the first half because they had so many chances they could have buried. Credit to the boys and also our goalkeeper.
“You come away and get a point, you are happy as a coach, not satisfied, happy.”
For CAPS United, the bigger concern may no longer be creating chances.
They are creating enough.
The problem is that draws are starting to pile up while the goals are not.
