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ZPC Kariba…………………..(1)1
FC Platinum…………………(0)1
Referee Ruzive Ruzive was at the centre of an ugly finish to a heavyweight Castle Lager Premiership match as log leaders FC Platinum battled from behind to secure a draw at Nyamhunga yesterday.
The draw saw FC Platinum take their points tally to 44, four more than second placed Caps United who visit Triangle this afternoon.
Pure Platinum Play, who ended the game with ten men after Gift Bello was sent off, restored parity in the 63rd minute through a Walter Musona strike after the home team were put in front in the first-half by Tawanda Munyanduri’s well taken turn and volley.
In search of a winner in the two added minutes, FC Platinum threw everything forward and a goal-bound Charles Sibanda was tripped just outside the box but referee Ruzive waved play on.
The resultant long clearance saw veteran striker Limited Chikafa one on one with the visitors’ goal keeper Petros Mhari, but his effort missed the target by a whisker.
Former Dynamos defender Gift Bello was against the decision to ignore the foul on Sibanda and was cautioned.
However, that did not silence Bello and Ruzive gave him his second yellow inside a minute.
More drama unfolded as FC Platinum gaffer Norman Mapeza stormed the pitch in a bid to get Bello off the field.
No play continued as Ruzive ended the match to fuel more commotion as several FC Platinum officials invaded the pitch to register their displeasure.
As expected, the match was a tactical affair and ZPC Kariba will rue a glut of missed chances in a match they showed superb defensive play.
Their discipline and patience paid off in the 20th minute when Munyanduri volleyed in a beautiful Never Tigere cross from the right flank.
The home team almost doubled their lead in the 33rd minute when speedy winger Talent Chawapihwa, who was a menace throughout the match, beat three FC Platinum defenders for pace and played in ageless Chikafa whose shot was wide.
The visitors goal-keeper Mhari produced a top-notch save to deny Munyaradzi Kunyarimwe who had unleashed a thunderous shot in the box with five minutes before the half-time.
But momentum was with FC Platinum after the breather and a Charles Sibanda volley that missed the goal by a whisker was a sign of what was to come.
The visitors restored parity when Musona finished off a rebound in the box after his first attempt was blocked.
In the end, the two teams shared the spoils and ZPC Kariba coach Sunday Chidzambwa reckoned his team, which won the reverse fixture at 2-1 at Mandava, dropped crucial points.
“I am not quite happy with the point, we should have wrapped up the game considering the chances we got after they equalized,” he said.
“These things happen in football, you miss chances, sometimes you play well and lose, sometimes you win.
“I think Platinum were in control in the second half. We played well in the first half but they controlled the game, but I don’t think they threatened at all and didn’t create clear cut chances.”
Mapeza welcomed the draw.
“I am happy,” he said.
“I am not going to talk about the officiating, that’s not my job; the match commissioner is there, that’s his job.
“We are not thinking much about where we are on the log, we are taking each game as it comes. Destiny is not in our hands, it is in God’s hands.”
ZPC Kariba: T Hove, T Munyanduri, M Kunyarimwe, S Appiah, B Mutukure, E Meleka, L Zvasiya, N Tigere, T Nyamandwe, L Chikafa, T Chawapihwa
FC Platinum: P Mhari, I Nekati, G Bello, E Moyo, K Moyo, W Mhango, R Chinyengetere, N Masuku, C Sibanda, T Rukanda, S Musona
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter