adminThe visitors hogged the limelight for the wrong reasons when out of frustration after they failed to breach the water-tight Hardbody defence, Ali Sadiki threw the ball into the nets of the hosts in a clear belief of juju in the 61st minute.
Referee Masakadza Makonese was spot on and cautioned the player.
Not to be outdone were the FC Platinum bouncers who assaulted Hardbody board official Talkmore Sibanda when they felt he was taking too long to return the ball in the field of play from the VIP enclosure.
Coming into the match, FC Platinum were expected to do easy work of the hosts as they had clobbered Watosvorwa 3-1 in the reverse fixture and had won both their matches in the rivalry which dates back to 2010 when both teams were part of the Zifa Central Soccer League.
FC Platinum had clinched 1-0 back-to-back wins in the second tier league with the last result which was played on the last day of the season sealing their place in the Premiership.
With little goalmouth action as the hosts were content with defending, the first meaningful chance of the match came in the 37th minute when a back pass by Hardbody’s Brian Juru was intercepted by Charles Sibanda but the 2010 Soccer Star of the Year shot agonisingly over the bar.
In the second half the visitors brought more urgency into their game and it was no surprise when FC Platinum almost got the breakthrough in the 58th minute when Benjamin Marere who had been a mere passenger for the better part of the match had his shot crashing against the upright after being set up by Sadiki in the box.
A minute later Marere almost made amends for his earlier miss but failed to connect a fine cross by Sibanda blazing his effort over the bar with Useni a beaten man. When the busmen’s defence remained resolute managing to repel all FC Platinum’s raids, a frustrated Sadiki then picked up the ball which was waiting to be dispatched by Useni and threw it at the Hardbody nets and was rightly cautioned by the referee.
Incensed by the referee’s decision, the Moneybags supporters threw missiles onto the pitch.
Hardbody’s meaningful chance fell to substitute Owen Motsi who had come in for Richard Jongwe in the 64th minute but he failed to convert against a heavily exposed FC Platinum goalie, Tafadzwa Dube.
Motsi broke loose from the FC Platinum rearguard after a fine pass by Nhlanhla Ncube who had roasted two defenders in the process and when it was easier to shoot at goal the substitute chose to square the ball which was easily dealt with by Dube.
After the match a distraught Chikuni blamed his team for failing to convert chances which came their way. His counterpart, Godfrey Tamirepi whose side now has 15 points was equally not pleased with the result.
Teams
Hardbody: Alexander Useni, Roy Useni, Andrew Chuma, Joana Mangiza, Irvine Mugwamba, Stephen Alimenda, Brian Juru, Jacob Muzokomba, Nhlanhla Ncube (C Nyoni 70th minute), Richard Jongwe (Owen Motsi 49 minute), Dumisani Mufudze (M Nyakabangwe 85th minute)
FC Platinum: Tafadzwa Dube, Zephaniah Ngodzo, Khumbulani Banda, Daniel Vheremu, Norman Togara, Thabani Kamusoko, Hardlife Mavundi (A Gahadzikwa 49 minute), Benjamin Marere (W Manondo 69th minute) Donald Ngoma (M Katsvairo 69th minute), Charles Sibanda, Ali Sadiki
Online Reporter