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Chicken Inn………………………………………………….1 (2)
FC Platinum………………………………………………………0
LEFT-FOOTED Kudakwashe Mahachi returned from a week-long trial stint with Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa to inspire Chicken Inn to a deserved win over FC Platinum in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League encounter played at Luveve Stadium yesterday. Mahachi was involved in the home team’s opening goal which was scored from the penalty spot by the country’s leading marksmen Tendai Ndoro who took his goal tally to 16 with his 22nd minute effort.
Veteran Mkhokheli Dube was hacked down inside the box by FC Platinum central defender Daniel Vheremu and referee Mlindeli Ndebele duly pointed to the spot before yellow carding the defender in the process. Up stepped Ndoro to bury it home even though Francis Tizayi dived to the right side.
The home team continued to trouble the visitors with Mahachi running rings around his markers. His switch of play was just a marvel to watch.
However, it was FC Platinum who almost found a goal in the 35th minute but Tatenda Mudewe’s shot was saved by Liberty Chirava, in goal for the home team. Six minutes before the break, Mahachi, certain to be among the country’s 11 best players when selectors meet sometime this month, rounded off Vheremu and charged towards goal but his shot with the weaker right foot did not trouble Tizayi.
The second half saw FC Platinum coach Lloyd Mutasa making a double substitution, bringing in Nelson Maziwisa and Obrey Chirwa for Mudewe and Mitchelle Katsvairo in an effort to find the equaliser.
Chicken Inn, now under Joe Antipas, never took their feet off the pedal and in the 49th minute an intelligent through ball from Mahachi found an on-rushing Ndoro whose first time shot found the FC Platinum goalkeeper Francis Tizai equal to the task.
Mutasa later brought in former Quelaton player, Mhleli Sibanda for an out of sorts Donald Ngoma who failed to compliment the good work that was being done by Charles Sibanda, the only outstanding player for the visitors. Now operating from the far right, Mahachi gave Elvis Moyo, the FC Platinum left back, all sorts of problems, including dribbling past him in the 59th minute much to the chagrin of the dreadlocked Thabani Kamusoko, later to be the victim.
The second goal came in the 63rd minute from a Mahachi moment of individual brilliance who dribbled past three FC Platinum players before unleashing a shot from the edge of the box that gave Tizai no chance at all. A clearly disappointed Mutasa conceded defeat and said his boys never really came to the party.
Meanwhile, Moses Muchenje, one of the key players at Caps United this season, struck in the second half to give his side a deserved victory over Buffaloes at Sakubva yesterday to keep alive their faint hopes of winning the Castle Lager Premiership title.
The match was played on a muddy pitch.
Buffaloes, who are not safe from relegation, will probably look back at their decision to use off-side traps as a favourite weapon in their defensive strategy as their downfall.
The Mutare soldiers paid dearly for that when one such trap left goalkeeper Blessing Mandimutsira badly exposed and an alert Muchenje did well to charge towards goal and fire home 67 minutes in the match.
The goal delighted the predominantly Caps United crowd on a chilly afternoon at Sakubva after some light showers in the city.
It was indeed sweet victory for Caps United having made up for the defeat in the reverse fixture at home.
The match started at an electric pace, which was surprising given that the muddy pitch was supposed to make life difficult for the players, with both teams intent on seizing the initiative and landing the first big blow. To their credit, Buffaloes not only repelled everything that their opponents threw at them but also created a number of chances that they somehow failed to put to good use.
Watungwa Watungwa could have been the first on the scoreboard after Wonder Sithole’s fine cross from a corner kick was headed back into the goal area by lanky Prosper Matizanadzo but a flat-footed Jacob Muzokomba missed the ball and failed to tap home from close range.
At the half hour mark, the exciting Hardlife Zirekwi drilled his way past a group of Buffaloes defenders before he sent a low cross that fell into the path of Rahman Kutsanzira with the diminutive forward releasing a scorcher which was, however, blocked by ‘keeper Blessing Mandimutsira.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter