Online Reporter
Innocent Kurira at Mandava Stadium
A moment of individual brilliance from substitute Jerrison Selemani was all it took for FC Platinum to secure a narrow but vital 1-0 victory over Highlanders in a tightly contested match.
In a match that was always likely to be decided by a single moment of magic or a costly error, it was Selemani’s audacious long-range effort that ultimately made the difference in the 66th minute. Coming on as a second-half substitute, the forward stunned both sets of supporters when he struck from well outside the box, just metres from the FC Platinum technical bench. His speculative yet superb effort caught Highlanders goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda off guard, the ball nestling into the back of the net and sealing three crucial points for the hosts.
Until that point, the match had been a cagey affair, with both teams creating chances but lacking the clinical edge in the final third. FC Platinum were the first to threaten, pressing forward as early as the third minute. Midfielder Oscar Bhebhe showed admirable composure and vision to glide past his marker before threading a neat pass to Claivert Tshuma on the right flank. Tshuma’s delivery into the box was inviting, but Devine Mhindirira could not rise high enough to connect cleanly with the cross.
Tshuma continued to cause problems down the right wing, and just minutes later, he floated in another dangerous ball, forcing Sibanda to act decisively under pressure. Highlanders, though not as fluid in possession, had their own moments of promise. They nearly opened the scoring in the 15th minute through a corner kick. Marvin Sibanda’s teasing inswinger created panic in the box, but FC Platinum goalkeeper David Bizabani reacted sharply to punch the ball clear amid a crowd of players
Highlanders grew into the game and came close again midway through the first half. Melikhaya Ncube unleashed a powerful drive from the edge of the area that seemed destined for the top corner, only to be denied by a heroic sliding block from Shepard Mhlanga.
The tension on the touchline mirrored the intensity on the pitch. Highlanders coach Pieter De Jongh was visibly animated throughout the first half, frequently voicing his frustration over what he believed were questionable refereeing decisions. His frustration eventually earned him a yellow card in the 56th minute after he angrily protested a challenge on Marvin Hativagoni which went unpunished.
The second half began with renewed energy from both sides. Five minutes after the restart, FC Platinum nearly took the lead when Hagiazo Magaya forced Sibanda into a sharp save at the near post, resulting in a corner that Highlanders eventually cleared. Moments later, the visitors responded with Marvin Sibanda firing narrowly over the bar after a promising move.
As the half wore on, FC Platinum began to look more threatening. In the 64th minute, James Nguluve was presented with a golden opportunity to break the deadlock, but Sibanda once again came to Highlanders’ rescue with a superb low save to deny him from close range.
However, there was little the Highlanders shot-stopper could do in the 70th minute. With seemingly nothing on, Selemani took a chance from distance, and his perfectly struck effort sailed past Sibanda to give FC Platinum the lead.
In a desperate search for an equaliser, Highlanders pushed numbers forward, even deploying central defender Brian Mlotshwa into an attacking role. Despite their efforts and increased pressure in the final minutes, they could not break down a resolute FC Platinum defence, who held on for a hard-earned win.
