adminTobias Mandoreba in Hwange
Hwange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0)1
FC Platinum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0)1
A lapse in concentration by the usually dependable Hwange defence seven minutes from time denied the coalminers a full set of points in a Castle Lager Premier League match against fellow miners FC Platinum at the Colliery yesterday.
With the home fans singing themselves hoarse and dancing wildly in anticipation of a sweet victory after a wonder goal by left winger Pritchard Mpelele in the 64th minute, Hwange defenders slept on duty to allow striker Walter Musona acres of space on the right flank before he released an unmarked Obrey Chirwa who banged home under no challenge at all.
The manner in which the goal was conceded could easily have given Chipangano coach Nation Dube a heart attack.
Hwange’s scent of victory had come earlier in the match when Mpelele, who is maturing with each outing, hammered home a left footed thunderbolt from 30 metres out after he had latched on to a clever flick by hard running Evans Rusike.
Mpelele’s effort was written “goal” all over the moment it left his boot and it should be ranked as one of the best goals ever seen at the venue in recent years.
The hosts had started the match in a fired up mood as they wanted to erase the memories of their disappointing 1-0 loss to Whawha in Gweru the previous weekend.
Hardly a minute into the match, Hwange earned a free-kick at the edge of the box only for their dead ball specialist Tonisani Sibelo to smash his effort against the FC Platinum wall.
On the quarter hour mark Rusike had a glorious opportunity to give the coalminers the lead but he watched in disbelief as his volley from close range was gallantly blocked by FC Platinum defender Raymond Sibanda with goalkeeper Petros Mhari diving in vain.
FC Platinum only did justice to their long trip from Zvishavane on the half hour mark after striker Donald Ngoma waltzed his way past David Boriwondo and Gerald Ndlovu only for his defence splitting pass to find no takers in the box.
The visitors came up with another venomous attack five minutes later when a deadly two man move involving Musona and Wisdom Mutasa ended with the latter miscuing his grounder from a few metres out.
The last half started with Hwange knocking on FC Platinum’s door and it was no surprise when they raced into the lead midway through the last half only for them to allow the visitors to snatch a point from the jaws of defeat towards the end of the encounter.
FC Platinum gaffer Norman Mapeza should however, reserve a bottle of champagne for his goalkeeper Mhari for the precious point as the former Chipangano man produced the save of the afternoon deep into injury time when he denied substitute Innocent Mucheneka from point blank range after the young player had been cleverly fed by fellow substitute Newman Sianchali.
Hwange goalkeeper’s coach Chenjerai Dube was left fuming at his defence for the draw.
“We simply lost the plot by conceding such a soft goal where the defence showed some laxity in marking.
We thought we had won the game which is a wrong mentality in football but overall we played well.” said Dube after the match.
Mapeza was happy with a point away from his Midlands base.
Online Reporter