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Paul Mundandi in Zvishavane
FC Platinum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0)2
Chicken Inn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
FC Platinum kept their chances of playing in the Mbada Diamonds Cup high when they collected maximum points against Chicken Inn to maintain a top four position in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League.
Thabani Kamusoko, who was not at his best by his own standards, opened the score sheet with just two minutes after the breather following a cautious first half from both sides which had little goal mouth action.
The platinum miners won a free kick and the dreadlocked defensive midfielder curled a beauty from the right that Elvis Chipezeze never saw although he was covering the upright post.
FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza, a tactician, had already changed the complexion of the game when he brought in the effective Zambian Obrey Chirwa for Ashley Mukwenya who had a disappointing afternoon.
Chirwa won possession on the right and left his marker Brian Mbiriri for dead before sending a cross that was met by a firm header by Donald Ngoma with the visitors defence wall watching in the 51st minute.
The scoreline, however, does little justice to a spirited second half performance by Mapeza’s men who missed chances. The chief culprit was Chirwa who on several occasions found himself in the box but failed to pass the ball to his teammates allowing the Gamecocks’ defence to clear.
Tatenda Dzumbunu, Wisdom Mutasa, Ngoma and the Moyo twins Kelvin and Elvis never put a foot wrong after finding a new lease of life under Mapeza.
Clemence Matawu was over-shadowed by Mutasa and Dzumbunu and it was not a surprise when he was pulled out in the 72nd minute by coach Joey Antipas.
Mapeza was excited with the performance and wished for better results from their two remaining fixtures.
“We did very well. My players were tired in the first half. We are in the right direction but we are not yet safe in the top four as we cherish playing in the Mbada Cup,” said Mapeza.
Antipas was not happy with the free kick awarded to Platinum resulting in the goal scored by the home team.
“That was not a free kick and it took the steam out of my players. We had a lot of possession in the second half. Platinum’s second goal was a beauty and now things are a bit tight as we wanted a top four finish but you never know with football because anything can happen,” he said.
Online Reporter