adminJUST when nobody gave them a chance, struggling Hwange tore the form book apart when they stunned Premiership log leaders FC Platinum with their maiden victory over the platinum miners at Mandava yesterday.
The two teams had contrasting fortunes when they arrived for the midweek encounter with the hosts riding on top of the table while the coalminers have been hovering on the lower rungs of the log.
All that counted for little, however as a 39th minute David Boriwondo header made all the difference and ensured Hwange got the better of their former coach Tennant Chilumba who is now in charge of FC Platinum.
Yesterday’s win was also the first time that Hwange had beaten FC Platinum in six meetings between the two sides.
Although they maintained pole position despite the defeat FC Platinum they are now just two points ahead of Dynamos who drew with Harare City in another game yesterday.
They also failed to increase their one-point advantage over Highlanders who will be in action against Monomotapa at Rufaro today.
In scoring his goal, Warriors trialist defender Boriwondo out jumped the hosts’ defence to meet with a corner swung corner from the right by Cravern Banda to beat goalkeeper Petros Mhari.
Yesterday’s win was the first time in six meetings that Hwange had managed to beat FC Platinum.
They also became the second team this season to hand the log leaders a defeat after Shabanie Mine who beat FC Platinum by a similar margin.
With the hosts looking disjointed all afternoon, Hwange capitalised and were clearly the better side that was full value for their confidence-boosting win. The hosts struggled without injured midfielder Ali Sadiki and his replacement Aubrey Chirwa was unlucky not to have opened the account in the 13th minute.
The Zambian got the better of defender Munyaradzi Mangadze and released a screamer that Hwange goalkeeper Timothy Sibanda only managed to tip over the bar.
Eight minutes later Hwange staged an onslaught when Evans Rusike caught the FC Platinum defence off guard and unleashed a shot that Nhari did well to block for a corner.
Daniel Veremu then saved his team from humiliation when he blocked a goal bound effort from Hwange with goalkeeper Mhari on the other side of the action. Hwange enjoyed territorial advantage and in the 41st minute defensive midfielder Andrew Chuma sent another chance begging when his effort missed the target by inches when he was fed in the box by dreadlocked Nkosana Siwela.
FC Platinum got the chance to equalise in the 85th minute from a corner by Mhango but Chirwa with goalkeeper Sibanda well beaten headed wide. Six minutes later the hosts were awarded a free kick when Mhango was tackled on the edge of the box. Substitute Joel Ngodzo released a shot that went past the visitors’ wall and Sibanda could only punch the ball onto the feet of fellow substitute Michelle Katsvairo but the former Gunners man cursed his luck when he powered his effort straight back into the goalkeeper’s hands.
FC Platinum assistant coach felt that the hosts had paid a price for being complacent.
“The league is a marathon. Hwange played very well but complacency has crept into our guys. We missed a lot of chances and in the end we got Punished for that,” said Chikuni.
Hwange coach Nation Dube who somehow lost his voice while barking instructions from the touchline throughout the game and left his assistant to Brian Njobvu to conduct the post match interviews.
“It was long overdue. We did not go out to buy big names but we kept faith in our youngsters and the fruits are now ripe. Our plan was just to hit them on the break and we basically did that and our victory was long overdue,” Njobvu said.
Teams:
FC Platinum: P Mhari, R Muduviwa, E Moyo, A Katebe, D Veremu, T Kamusoko, W Mhango,N Maziwisa (M Katsvairo 56th min ),O Chirwa, C Sibanda (J Ngodzo 77th min) W Ndiweni (R Sibanda 63rd min)
Hwange:T Sibanda,M Mpofu,M Mungadze,G Ndlovu, A Chuma, D Boriwondo, A Banda, N Siwela, F Vimisayi, E Rusike,I Masame (O Lungu 77th min)
Online Reporter