Online Reporter
Alberto Chamwadoro
Scottland 2-0 CAPS United
HERENTALS coach Paul Benza walked away from Mandava Stadium with more than three points yesterday.
He finally got one over Joel Luphahla.
Liyeto Dreamer’s first-half strike handed the Students a hard-fought 1-0 victory over FC Platinum in a result that ended the hosts’ impressive defensive run and gave Benza what he described as “sweet revenge” against a coach who took six points off him last season.
The decisive moment arrived in the 36th minute when FC Platinum defender Nickson Nyasulu completely missed a routine clearance inside the box. Dreamer reacted quickest, pouncing on the loose ball before calmly beating goalkeeper Raphael Pitisi.
It was a costly mistake.
Pitisi had gone 485 minutes without conceding a league goal, but Dreamer’s intervention ended that streak and ultimately settled a tense afternoon at Mandava.
FC Platinum will wonder how they left empty-handed after creating enough chances to put the game beyond Herentals long before Dreamer’s winner.
Jarrison Selemani was at the heart of most of the hosts’ attacking moves and repeatedly caused problems for the visitors. In the 16th minute, Trevor Bhunu whipped in an inviting cross that Selemani failed to connect with.
Moments later, Nyasha Nyasulu found himself unmarked from a corner but could not make the chance count.
Those misses would come back to haunt the hosts.
The Students soaked up pressure, defended with discipline and looked dangerous whenever they broke forward. Their game management frustrated FC Platinum, with Luphahla visibly unhappy at what he felt were attempts by the visitors to slow the game down.
Both coaches turned to their benches after the break as they searched for answers.
FC Platinum introduced Emmanuel Dogbey and Abraham Mbakonja Tjahikika in an effort to increase their attacking threat, while Herentals responded by bringing on Dombo Eric and Blessing Phiri to add fresh legs and physicality.
The pressure kept coming.
Corners, free-kicks and crosses were delivered into the Herentals box, but the Students stood firm. Every attack was met by a block, clearance or interception as the visitors dug deep to protect their slender advantage.
When the final whistle sounded, Herentals celebrated a victory built on organisation, patience and a clinical finish.
For FC Platinum, it was another painful reminder of a problem that has followed them throughout the campaign, creating chances but failing to convert them.
A disappointed Luphahla did not hide his frustration.
“It is disappointing to lose at home, but it is even more disappointing to lose the game in the manner that we did. I think we could have wrapped this game up in the first half, where we had a lot of good chances that we did not convert,” said Luphahla.
“This has always been the story of our season. We get opportunities, but we fluff them. It is really disappointing, especially playing at home.
“Our opponents had only one chance and they scored. For me, it is a very sad day.
“I feel that the players did not do enough today. They did not respect the badge. Most of the time I am always defending them, but today I feel they did not respect the badge, they didn’t defend the badge and they didn’t defend our home.”
Benza, meanwhile, could hardly hide his satisfaction.
“Definitely a sweet victory, especially considering that we won 1-0. That means the game was very tense, but it was also very exciting,” he said.
“We are also happy because we managed to get revenge for the six points we lost to Coach Luphahla last year, even though he was at Simba Bhora back then.
“On top of that, we have usually had problems beating FC Platinum, especially when they are playing at home. So for us, this is a truly sweet victory.”
