adminThe first goal came from Allen Gahadzikwa 13 minutes into the game after Sikhumbulani Dube was guilty of slack marking on Benjamin Marere in the box who shook him off before crossing for the on-rushing Gahadzikwa who buried the ball into the back of the net a mere six yards out beating Tapiwanashe Marime who was in goal for Quelaton.
FC Platinum could have gone two up a minute later when the slippery Marere set up Joel Ngodzo whose snapshot was deflected by Quelaton defender Zibusiso Sibanda for a corner.
Quelaton were to survive another scare seven minutes later when William Manondo lobbed the ball over an on-rushing Marime but his lob bounced over the bar.
The impressive Marime was to deflect yet another FC Platinum attack when he saved an Ali Sadiki grounder in the 20th minute after the latter exchanged passes with Gahadzikwa and the Quelaton goalkeeper did well to recover from the initial spill to collect with Manondo lurking.
Marime however was to be beaten after 33 minutes when Sadiki turned provider for youngster Manondo who was in space and the latter unleashed a ferocious strike that hit the underside of the crossbar to beat Marime.
This was the player’s second goal in two matches after returning from loan at Gunners for the miners.
He scored in last week’s game against Blue Rangers.
The Quelaton goalkeeper was to limit the damage again when he tipped a Marere snapshot over the bar five minutes before the interval and that was to be the last foray at goal by either team in the opening half.
After the interval, which saw the emergency services personnel coming into the stadium after an absence in the first half, the visitors got their third goal in the 50th minute from the penalty spot.
Quelaton defender Sikhumbulani Dube pulled down Manondo in the box and referee Nkosana Nduna initially played advantage before a melee in the Quelaton goal area and he finally pointed to the spot after another debatable handling offence and Sadiki sent Marime the wrong way to make it 3-0 for the visitors.
Quelaton tried to respond with Innocent Kutsanzira having a shot blocked by Qadr Amin and his shot from the rebound was a tame one that Francis Tizirayi in goal for the visitors easily collected.
This was to be followed by a Tedius Mugumanya gaffe when he blew a golden opportunity for the home team in the 62nd minute when the visitors’ captain Daniel Vheremu misjudged a pass which went over him. It found Mugumanya but the midfielder took too much time on the ball and his shot missed the target from inside the box when the FC Platinum defenders closed him in on him.
Ngodzo was to respond for the visitors with a 74th minute 30-metre screamer out of the blue that caught Marime off guard to nestle into the back of the net to increase the woes of Quelaton.
In the 85th minute Marere nearly made it five with a spectacular volley which hit the crossbar and went back into play with Marime beaten.
This was the last action worth mentioning in an otherwise flat affair that was punctuated by the screams of the visitors’ fans who were the better side of an otherwise indifferent lot on the field.
Quelaton coach Farai Sibanda said his team had just crumbled and they were going to sit down to find out what went wrong on the field.
“The whole game went off plan and the team struggled from the word go as they could not even string four passes together. We are going to ask the boys to explain this bad show but it is back to the drawing board but I am sure our chances to survive are still there but the fight goes on,” Sibanda said.
His opposite number Tendai Chikuni said it was good for the team.
“Last week we beat Blue Rangers and today it is Quelaton. I am happy for the team, more so for our youngsters who are tasting first team action and are doing well. What makes this victory all the sweeter is that this is our first win in Bulawayo since last year and I am happy,” Chikuni said.
Teams
Quelaton: T Marime, W Chiramba, S Dube, Z Sibanda, J Pongolani, I Kutsanzira (Mhleli Sibanda 57 minutes), G Mleya, M Moyo (Marshall Machazane 57 minutes), T Mugumanya, T Moyo, T January.
FC Platinum: F Tizirayi, S Shoko, D Vheremu, T Kamusoko, Q Amin, H Mavundi, J Ngodzo, B Marere, A Gahadzikwa (W Ndiweni 57 minutes), A Sadiki (Edmore Tsoro 86 minutes), W Manondo (M Katsvairo 70 minutes).
Results at a glance
Yesterday: Quelaton 0, FC Platinum 4; Motor Action 2, Black Mambas 2; Gunners 0, Buffaloes 1; Caps United 2, Hardbody 1; Shabanie Mine 2, Hwange 1; Blue Rangers 1, Monomotapa 1
Online Reporter