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From Paul Mundandi and Oscar Rusenga in Zvishavane
FC Platinum 0 – 1 Chicken Inn
Harare City (0)1 – (0) 1 Triangle
(Triangle won 7-6 on penalties)
VETERAN midfielder Clement Matawu ensured that Chicken Inn book a berth in the semi-finals of the One Wallet cup as the Gamecocks edged FC Platinum at Mandava Stadium yesterday. Matawu who shone like a beacon all afternoon scored in the 82nd minute.FC Platinum defence failed to clear a cross which fell to the former Motor Action midfielder who released a scorcher that beat FC Platinum and former Hwange goalminder Petros Mhari all systems out to settle matters for the Gamecocks.
Matawu described the match as one of his best.
Said Matawu: “This is one of my best games. In the past seasons Chicken Inn has been going out in the first round but this is a positive result and we are looking forward to the semi-finals.”
“With the way the league is shaping up it seems we are out of the race but this tournament is our only chance of claiming silverware this season.”
Both sides did not have meaningful goal scoring chances although the platinum miners were looking dangerous everytime they won set pieces.
However, the platinum miners took turns to miss the chances with the biggest culprit being Walter Musona who failed to convert a free kick just outside the box in the 75th minute as he skied his effort.
On the other hand the Gamecocks looked dangerous everytime they were on the break but failed to get clear cut chances to double their advantage.
Joey Antipas, Chicken Inn gaffer was pleased with the result and said his lads had stuck to the game plan.
“I am happy with the result and being in the semi-finals of the tournament. The boys stuck to our game plan which was to suffocate the midfield and get a man behind the ball so that we pin them in their own half,” he said.
His counterpart, Lloyd Mutasa was disappointed and blamed the loss on a misfiring strikeforce.
He said: “I am disappointed with the overall performance of the team. We were second to the ball and our strikers failed to utilise the few chances which came our way.”
Meanwhile, in another match played yesterday Phineas Bamusi turned from hero to villain after his attempted cheeky penalty, in sudden death shootout, was saved by Ronald Mudimu at Mandava yesterday as Triangle powered into the quarter-finals of the One-Wallet Cup yesterday.
Bamusi was almost manhandled by his ‘keeper Maxwell Nyamupanedengu who was disappointed by his teammate’s foolish decision to go for a stylish penalty given what was at stake in this contest.
The ‘keeper had to be restrained by his teammates.
Bigboy Mawiwi, the Harare City coach, felt betrayed.
“I know this was a knockout game and we trained spot kicks since Tuesday and I have never seen my player taking a penalty like that one”, he said.
“We wasted several chances in the first half while they made several blunders. I told my boys at halftime that football is all about scoring and I am bitter about the result.”
Munyaradzi Nyenye even had a chance to win the match for Harare City after Felix Kuswatuka missed the fifth penalty for Triangle but he blew his chance.
But it was Bamusi’s penalty that plunged a dagger into the hearts of the Harare City players and supporters.
City took the lead inside 11 minutes through Nathan Ziwini’s header before Triangle replied through Nhamo Lameck.
City looked more determined in the first half, enjoying much of possession and creating better scoring opportunities, but they later rued their missed chances.
It did not take too long for the Sunshine Boys to take the lead as their goal, in the 11th minute, when Bamusi curled in an inviting cross for Ziwini to score a free header.
The Lowveld team was forced into an early substitution when right back Praise Tonha was carried off the pitch injured in the 21st minute.
Harare City almost capitalised four minutes later when captain William Mapfumo made a costly blunder, giving away possession to Martin Vengesai who set up Fransesco Zekumbawire who shot well over the crossbar.
The introduction of Kuswatuka was a game changer for Triangle.
Just after the hour mark the big striker (Kuswatuka) shrugged off challenges by City defence to set up Nhamo who did not miss from close range.
“We knew it was going to be a very difficult Cup game but we prepared well all week and my boys were composed in the shootout though we looked like amateurs in the first half,” said Triangle coach Biggie Zuze.
Online Reporter