Online Reporter
Fungai Muderere At Luveve Stadium
Chicken Inn 0-0 Manica Diamonds
CHICKEN Inn and Manica Diamonds have lost ground in their relegation fight after the goalless draw at Luveve on Saturday.
With both teams aiming to collect maximum points, players from both clubs seemed to have conspired to deliver a disappointing performance.
For the Gamecocks, it was another three points lost at home.
Joey Antipas said: “It’s still game on, we still need to take our chances. Everyone needs to rise up.”
Going into the match, Joey Antipas’ charges had managed to collect 27 points from 25 outings.
On the other hand, Manica Diamonds are tied on the same number of points, sitting above them courtesy of a superior goal difference. After watching his team struggle at Luveve Stadium, the Manica Diamonds coach Tafadzwa Mashiri, who recently replaced seasoned gaffer Jairos Tapera, said: “Looking at the fixture, I think this was our most difficult game. It was a difficult match, but we have been doing well.”
It was a match in which the Gamecocks’ trio of George Majika, Malvin Hwata and substitute Brian Muza could have scored, only to be let down by poor finishing. Manica Diamonds goalkeeper Geeyory Chitsumba stood firm.
Rainsome Pavari was introduced from the bench as a second-half substitute. With a few games remaining, it remains to be seen how Chicken Inn and the miners will fare in this relegation battle.
Meanwhile, defending champions Simba Bhora retained top spot on the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League table after beating MWOS 1-0 in a Matchday 25 encounter at Ngoni Stadium yesterday.
The Joel Luphahla-coached Simba secured a hard-fought win late in the game, courtesy of a stoppage-time winner from Tapuwa Mandinyenya. The victory took the champions to 50 points, one ahead of second-placed Scottland.
MWOS, who have now gone six matches without a win, remain in third place with 42 points. At Baobab Stadium, ten-man Ngezi Platinum surrendered a lead to settle for a 1-1 draw against Bikita Minerals. Captain Qadr Amin had put Ngezi ahead in the 70th minute from the penalty spot, just three minutes before Brooklyn Katumba was shown a red card.
Bikita Minerals also won a penalty and equalised in stoppage time through Felix Moyo.
PSL Results
MWOS 0–1 Simba Bhora, Chicken Inn 0–0 Manica Diamonds, Ngezi Platinum 1–1 Bikita Minerals, GreenFuel 0–1 Herentals
