Chronicle Editor
Harare Bureau
Manica Diamonds 1-0 FC Platinum
Ngezi Platinum 1-1 CAPS United
Ngezi Platinum won 4-3 on penalties
MANICA Diamonds and Ngezi Platinum Stars are through to the semi-finals of this year’s Chibuku Super Cup after overcoming their opponents at Sakubva and Baobab respectively yesterday.
At Manica Diamonds, it was a sad tale for the visitors, FC Platinum, as they succumbed to the same opponent for the third time this season.
What hurt more after the match is that the platinum miners made it a hat-trick of identical 1-0 losses to Jairos Tapera’s men.
FC Platinum dominated the better part of the match.
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 1-0 lead obtained early in the sixth minute. Tawanda Macheke scored a beauty, tapping an Alneka Chiwandire delivery across the line.
The result meant that Manica 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 exchanges and an exciting brand of attacking football but somehow the platinum miners lacked the cutting edge in front of goal.
At Baobab in Mhondoro, Ngezi and CAPS United played themselves to a 1-1 draw in regulation time before going for the lottery won 4-3 by the platinum miners.
Dynamos’ match against Yadah has been postponed because of the defending champions’ participation in the Confederation Cup, which will be played this afternoon in Francistown, Botswana.
Highlanders with the exit of FC Platinum will be hard-pressed to win to ensure the Southern Region retains representation in the tournament.
They face log leaders Simba Bhora at Wadzanayi Stadium in Shamva this afternoon.
Online Reporter