Langa Mabena
Manica Diamonds ….. (1) 1
FC Platinum………………(0) 0
THREE matches in one season, same teams, same scoreline, same loser, and the same winner!
This is the script history will record after Norman Mapeza agonizingly watched his team bow out of the 2024 Chibuku Super Cup at quarter final stage yesterday at Sakubva Stadium after dominating their opponents but, in the end, suffer a painful defeat.
On the other end, hosts Manica Diamonds will have their goalkeeper Tedious Baye to thank for his match winning saves that left the Mutare outfit maintaining a slender one nil lead obtained early in the sixth minute over FC Platinum in an exciting Chibuku Super Cup quarter final match played at Sakubva Stadium yesterday.
The result meant that Manuca Diamonds have beaten former PSL champions three times in one season after getting the better of the Zvishavane side in both their Castle Lager Premiership encounters.
FC Platinum were undoubtedly the better side of the two, as they dominated the entire 90 minutes with some neat exachages and an exciting brand of attacking football but somehow the platinum miners lacked the cutting edge in front of goal.
Tawanda Macheke propelled Manica Diamonds into the lead with a beautiful goal that came early in the sixth minute when he skilfully tapped home midair off Anelka Chiwandire’s cross.
FC Platinum could have restored parity in the 20th minute when they earned a free kick just on the edge of the box after Lawrence Mhlanga had been crudely tackled by Manica Diamonds’ defender Kelvin Gwao. However, Jarison Selemani directed his effort straight at the wall, and the ball was headed off the field of play for a corner kick.
The visitors continued pilling presure in search of an equaliser, but somehow they either found the Gem Boys backing impenetrable or Baye alert and equal to the challenge.
Mapeza’s men almost came close to scoring in the 72nd minute when a well positioned and unmarked captain Rainsome Pavari got to the end of a cross from a corner kick but his effort was well dealth with by goalkeeper Baye who parried the ball over the cross bar to keep his team in the lead.
In the 80th Minute, Manica Diamonds winger Micheal Tapera spurned a chance to extend his team’s lead when he needlessly took much time to control the ball in a goalkeeper to beat situation, allowing defender Mbongeni Ndlovu to recover and dispossess him, much to the chagrin of the home team fans.
Manica Diamonds assistant coach Patrick Mandizha conceeded that his team did not play well but was happy to have secured a vital win.
“We are happy that we managed to hold on to the slender lead until the end of the encounter. It was not easy. Our opponents were all over us from the onset of the encounter, but we defended well and managed to get the all-important win,” said Mandizha.
A visibly disturbed Mapeza slammed his team’s lack of potency in front of goal for their Chibuku Super Cup ouster.
“It’s sad that we had to lose this match after dominating the encounter. We were the better team from the onset but somehow we just could not score and we have suffered yet another defeat at the hands of the same team. This is exactly what happened again last week when they beat us at home. We plated really well but could not score. Today, we created numerous chances but failed to score again. It’s part of the game of football,” said Mapeza.
derick.khumalo