dyton mupawaenda
Phylis Nleya in Zvishavane
DEFENDING champions FC Platinum and Dynamos all but surrendered their Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title chase in a cagey, goalless affair at Mandava yesterday.
While firing blanks, both teams finished with 10 players each as Dynamos lost Emmanuel Paga while FC Platinum had Lawrence Mhlanga and both were FOR second yellow cards.
Leaders Ngezi Platinum won at home to Sheasham to open a nine-point lead over Dynamos and FC Platinum who are level on 51 points with three games remaining.
While the two still have a mathematical chance of winning the title, Ngezi Platinum now need a draw to move beyond the reach of Dynamos and FC Platinum.
They need three points to go beyond reach of second placed Manica Diamonds.
Nil all is how it ended in a fixture where goals were expected given the talent on both teams.
Both teams started cautiously with a lot of action in the middle of the park with few goalscoring chances.
Prince Tafiremusa in goal for Dynamos denied Juan Mutudza in the eighth minute of the game. The home team’s forward had found himself with the ball in the box but poor finishing lets him down. Donald Dzvinyai was solid in the heart of the Dynamos defence.
In the 31st minute FC Platinum got another opportunity as Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya hit a screamer which ricocheted off the crossbar and back into play with Tafiremutsa beaten all systems out.
During the break the clubs tussled in the middle of the park with both claiming their opponents had used “juju.”
DeMbare came back charged up in the second half with Elton Chikona a substitute making dangerous forays into the opposition half.
Emmanuel Paga appeared to have been impeded by an FC Platinum defender but he was cautioned for the incident earning himself a second booking.
A few minutes later Lawrence Mhlanga was expelled for rough play.
Teams
FC Platinum: Petros Mhari, Gift Mbweti,
Bello Gift, Mhlanga Lawrence, Nomore Chinyerere, Rainsome Pavari, Juan Mutudza, Brian Banda
Selemani Jarrison , K Mutimbanyoka Panashe, Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya
Dynamos: Tafiremutsa Prince, Paga Emmanuel, Dzvinya, Donald Mudadi, Makarati Frank, Junior Makunike, Tanaka Shandirwa, Keith Madera, Issa Sadiki, Elvis Moyo, K Moyo
Online Reporter