Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi
Zimpapers Sports Hub
Herentals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
FC Platinum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
FC PLATINUM coach Norman Mapeza yesterday rued a series of missed opportunities as the former champions settled for a goalless draw in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League encounter against Herentals at Rufaro.
The Zvishavane side, who were nearly punished by the Students towards the death, were eventually forced to take home the draw despite dominating the exchanges.
Mapeza was not entirely pleased as he felt the game should have been dusted in the first half when Oscar Bhebhe and Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya fluffed good opportunities.
“It’s two points dropped,” he said.
“The reason? We got clear-cut chances in the first half; we should have wrapped up the game in the first half.”
“What happened in the second half? It was supposed to be game management. Everything should have been done in the first half.
“So, it’s two points dropped for us. In the first half, Herentals never gave us any problems. In the second half as well, maybe save for that last-minute opportunity, which Wallace brilliantly saved.
“But in terms of any threats, there was nothing. But like I said, the game should have been done and dusted in the first half,” said Mapeza.
The Platinum miners went into the match with their confidence up following back-to-back wins over TelOne and ZPC Kariba.
They enjoyed most of the possession, but they could not capitalise on the few chances they created.
Herentals were saved by the woodwork after a quarter of an hour when Bhebhe found space in the box and unleashed a rising shot that crashed against the underside of the crossbar and bounced back into play from the goal line.
Then FC Platinum’s man of the moment, Ngwenya, could have broken the deadlock just a few moments later when Herentals defence was caught off guard.
Ngwenya did everything right as he raced all the way from his half in a swift counter- attack to come face-to-face with goalkeeper Tinotendaishe Takarinda.
The Students had the goalkeeper to thank for a brilliant save from a one-on-one situation.
The hosts were largely quiet but came back more purposeful on the second half.
Second-half substitute Erick Dombo could have made the difference when he spotted goalkeeper Wallace Magalane off his line. Dombo was first to the ball and chipped it over Magalane, who was way off the line while going for a loose ball in no man’s land.
Dombo was first to the ball, and he chipped it over the advancing goalkeeper.
However, the visitors’ defenders recovered on time and cleared the ball from the line.
But Magalane turned out to be the hero when he denied the Students a last-minute winner with a brilliant reflex to punch skipper Tinotenda Benza’s point-blank header over the bar.
Herentals coach Paul Benza was content with the outcome of the match.
“For us, it’s a good result considering we are coming from two defeats and as well playing a team that scored four goals last week; a team that we all know keeps possession well.
“So, keeping a clean sheet is something positive, and I am happy with that,” said Benza.
