FC Platinum through

The match was ill-tempered as Hwange had their coach sent off after protesting against FC Platinum’s opener scored by Charles Sibanda in the 12th minute. Hwange argued that Sibanda was offside.
Play was stopped for 16 minutes  after the Hwange players walked off the pitch

The match commissioner Martin Chiduku arrived 10 minutes late with the match officials failing to decide whether or not to allow the game to go on since Hwange did not have PSL licences. The team only had its Caf licences.
Bulawayo referee Happy Mabhena could not allow the match to start and had to engage the FC Platinum captain to identify the Hwange players.
An alert Zifa official from Bulawayo saved the situation when he intervened.

FC Platinum who enjoyed the home advantage surged ahead through Sibanda who slotted a rebound from goalkeeper Petros Mhari who had found Norman Togara’s shot from the right too hot to handle.

Allen Gahadzikwa increased the tally when his header from an Ali Sadiki cross beat Mhari in the 31st minute.
Hwange who were fielding their reserve side gathered courage and pulled one back through midfielder Malvern Longwe in the 33rd minute. Tongai Mamina who was full of energy the whole afternoon got the better of FC Platinum leftback Qadr Amin on the right and sent a cross to Longwe who was lurking in the box and he easily beat Tafadzwa Dube.

A minute later Hwange could have levelled the scores when Longwe dribbled past the hosts defence  with Mamina in a good position but the midfielder was greedy as he chose to go for the kill himself shooting weakly at Dube.
Hwange then paid dearly when Mitchell Katsvairo who has developed a knack of scoring goals against the coalminers did justice to a Joel Ngodzo pass. Ngodzo won possession and raced towards the Hwange area. He took time with the ball between his legs and cleverly scooped the ball to the on-rushing Katsvairo whose finish had fans on the edge of their seats.

Hwange then sent another chance begging when Longwe was sent through by forceful Francisco Zvikumbawire but with Dube at his mercy he sent his effort into the sky.

Former Lancashire player Farai Vimisayi was the next culprit to miss when the forceful Zvikumbawire won possession beating the FC Platinum rearguard and sent a defence splitting pass but much to the surprise of the Chipangano bench, the player shot weakly at goal and Dube had no problem in the 44th minute.
A few minutes after the breather Hwange who were dangerous upfront and with support coming from Dynamos and Shabanie Mine fans who backed them all the

way, saw Mamina reacting to a pass from his captain Rodwell Chinyengetere releasing a screamer that Dube parried back into his path and the rebound though ferocious, Daniel Vheremu blocked it for a corner with his goalkeeper sprawling on the ground.

Hwange had hectic travel arrangements as the team arrived from Sudan on Tuesday and travelled to Bulawayo on Wednesday before travelling to Zvishavane yesterday as they thought the match would be played in Bulawayo.
The team is on the road this morning back to Hwange and they have only a day to prepare for their clash against FC Platinum at the Colliery as the teams will be meeting for the third time this season on Sunday.

The defeat left Hwange with a mountain to climb as they are still to beat FC Platinum in a match. They lost two league matches last season and the Bob 88 Super Cup final in February before being shown the exit door again yesterday.
“We played very well and we had planned for the match. Hwange is a good side but we played our cards very well and that is the reason why we managed to win against them. We were coming from defeat and we wanted a win and my guys just did that,” said Tendai Chikuni the assistant coach.

The Hwange technical team could not be reached for comment as they left the stadium immediately after the referee blew to end the match.

Teams
FC Platinum: T Dube, D Vheremu, Q Amin (K Banda 81st minute), R Nenzou, A Sadiki, N Togara, C Sibanda, J Ngodzo, G Banda, A Gahadzikwa (W Ndiweni 72nd minute), M Katsvairo (T Kamusoko 85th minute).
Hwange: P Mhari, E Chipeta, M Mungadze, G Ndlovu, A Katede, W Mhango, M Longwe, F Vimisayi, T Mamina (A Tavarwisa 72nd minute), D Kamunenga (R Chinyengetere 46th minute), F Zvikumbawire.
Match officials: Happy Mabhena (Referee),Tiwone Kacheche, Brighton Nyika, Philani Ncube.