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Tobias Mandoreba Hwange Correspondent
Hwange 0-1 FC Platinum
A 50th minute header by young Walter Musona was enough to secure a top four finish for FC Platinum who produced a brilliant performance to silence Hwange in their own backyard in a Castle Lager Premier league match played before a big crowd at the Colliery Stadium yesterday.
The platinum miners have been enjoying a new lease of life after Norman Mapeza took over and yesterday Hwange could not stop the juggernaut in a match the coalminers also needed maximum points to push the battle for a fourth slot to the last matches.
FC Platinum could have put the game to bed in the opening half as they bombarded Hwange from all angles only to waste a glut of chances that came their way.
Zambian import Obrey Chirwa was on fire as he harassed and overworked the Chipangano central defensive partnership of David Boriwondo and Gerald Ndlovu the whole afternoon.
Inside five minutes, FC Platinum forced two corner kicks with Chirwa being in the thick of things in those early attacks.
When the hosts decided to wake up from their slumber on the quarter hour mark, they launched an attack after striker Evans Rusike, who has been consistent for Hwange this season, sent in a delicate cross from the right which was completely missed by inspirational midfielder Rodwell Chinyengetere with an intended diving header.
In a swift counter attack moments later, the platinum miners almost grabbed the opener but midfielder Tatenda Dzumbunu hit the side netting after another glorious pass by Chirwa.
The neat passing game by FC Platinum continued with another chance presenting itself in the 22nd minute after overlapping defender Raphael Muduviwa sent in a defence splitting cross only for Chirwa to direct his shot to the skies from a few metres out.
On the half hour mark, Hwange fans had their hearts in their mouths but veteran goalkeeper Timothy Sibanda prevented any heartaches by producing a one-hand save to push a sizzling Thabani Kamusoko freekick from the edge of the box out for a corner kick.
The danger was not over for the coalminers as 10 minutes from the breather Sibanda again produced another top drawer save to deny Chirwa from point blank range as FC Platinum continued to turn on the pressure.
Hwange were not given a chance to re-group in the last stanza as FC Platinum raced into the lead in the 50th minute through Musona who connected a curling Elvis Moyo corner kick into the roof of the nets to leave the small band of travelling fans in a frenzy.
Hwange’s introduction of Farai Vimisai for the ineffective Nkosana Siwela in the 58th minute made life uncomfortable for FC Platinum as the hosts started to play with a lot of purpose.
Vimisai however failed to put his name on the score sheet seven minutes later as he latched on to a sitter from Chese only to miscue his shot with the visitors Petros Mhari at his mercy.
Desperate Hwange continued to knock at FC Platinum’s doors and had a big shout for a penalty waved away by Bulawayo referee Allan Bhasvi in the 70th minute after Kamusoko appeared to have handled a Vimisai cross inside the box which was intended for Rusike.
The visitors then took control of the game in the last 10 minutes of the game as they launched some dangerous forays from the right flank through Musona only for poor finishing to prevent them from killing the game off as a contest.
After the match Hwange coach Nation Dube bemoaned the lapse in concentration which led to Musona’s goal.
“It was a game of two halves where FC Platinum controlled the opening half but we came back playing far much better. We defended poorly which led to that goal. I also think the referees need to be consistent in their work as we came into the match short of crucial personnel after some needless cautions, something which we witnessed here again today,” said Dube.
Mapeza was an elated man after the match.
“In the first half we played very brilliantly and I am happy we got the goal early in the last half because Hwange made it tough for us in this period. I give credit to Nation Dube for building such a good side. The win is a morale booster for us ahead of the Chibuku Cup final next weekend,” said a smiling Mapeza.
Teams
Hwange: T Sibanda; T Sibelo; P Mpelele; G Ndlovu; D Boriwondo; A Tshuma; T Chese; N Siwela (F Vimisai 58th minute); O Lungu (N Sianchali 72nd minute); R Chinyengetere; E Rusike
FC Platinum: P Mhari; R Muduviwa; E Moyo(Q Amin 58th min);G Bello; K Moyo; O Chirwa; D Ngoma; T Dzumbunu(J Marufu 88th min);A Gahadzikwa(A Katebe 90th minute); T Kamusoko; W Musona.
Match Officials: Allan Bhasvi; Abraham Manda; Venancio Zulu; Brilliant Sibanda
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