Andrew
Ricky Zililo in ZVISHAVANE
FC Platinum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 1
Bulawayo Chiefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
CHAMPIONS FC Platinum were forced to dig deep before securing a late and yet crucial win over battling Bulawayo Chiefs in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League tie at Mandava Stadium yesterday.
Their resilience and patience won the FC Platinum players praises from their coach Norman Mapeza. The hosts also retained their place at the summit of the log standings.
An 88th-minute strike by Lawrence Mhlanga, who punished Chiefs for some sloppy defending, gave FC Platinum maximum points.
It was a heart-breaking goal for Chiefs, who managed to dominate the second half, having played second fiddle in the opening period.
The victory means FC Platinum, with 43 points, opened a five-point lead over second-placed Chicken Inn, who play Tenax at Vengere Stadium this afternoon.
Mapeza also gave credit to Chiefs for giving them a good run.
“It was a good game, a match where they enjoyed some dominance, and we also did so.
“Even if we had drawn, I think it would have been a good result for us,” said Mapeza.
His Bulawayo Chiefs counterpart Nilton Terroso blamed a lapse in concentration for the late goal his side conceded.
The Portuguese coach felt his team should have at least emerged from Mandava with something had they been more clinical.
“One of the good games we have played. It’s a game we played well but failed to make use of our chances,” Terroso said.
FC Platinum started the game at a frenetic pace, but Chiefs held on and crept into the game.
The first goalmouth action came in the 13th minute when FC Platinum’s leading scorer Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya dribbled past Chiefs’ left-back Elvis Moyo and played in a hard-and-low cross, which the visitors’ skipper Marlvin Mkolo cleared onto the path of Ransom Pavari.
Pavari’s delivery, however, went to the stands.
Veteran FC Platinum central defender Mhlanga came in with a perfect tackle, sliding the ball away for a corner as he stopped Chiefs’ striker Farau Matare, who was charging at goal in the 23rd minute.
Two minutes later, Brian Banda tried a long-range shot that didn’t trouble Chiefs’ goalkeeper David Bizabani.
Chiefs’ winger Wilson Mensah was also guilty of wasting a glorious scoring opportunity as he decided to control the ball instead of hitting it on the run in the 29th minute.
This allowed hosts’ defender Gift Bello to recover and clear the ball to safety.
Meanwhile, while Chiefs were conceding late in Zvishavane, Bulawayo City compounded WhaWha’s relegation woes when they registered a 3-1 win over the Gweru team at Barbourfields.
It was the fourth win for Amakhosi and third under coach Farai Tawachera, who succeeded Philani “Beefy” Ncube at the beginning of May.
Dalubuhle Dlodlo opened the scoring for Bulawayo City in the fourth minute when he headed in a cross from Genius Mutungamiri from the right.
Shortly afterwards, Jayden Barake rattled the crossbar with City ‘keeper Reward Sibanda beaten.
Mutungamiri made it 2-0 to City in the eighth minute when Dlodlo turned provider.
He was given all the time to control and place the ball beyond the reach of Allan Masaya in goals for the visitors.
Talented Zimbabwe youth international Calum English-Brown scored a spectacular goal for WhaWha from a free-kick taken outside the box but it only proved to be a consolation. Two minutes into the second half, City were awarded a penalty after WhaWha skipper Roy Useni’s challenge was deemed to be illegal.
And up-stepped Melikhaya Ncube to fire past Masaya.
Barake had an opportunity to reduce the arrears for WhaWha in the referee’s optional time but he blasted his effort wide with Muza to beat. Tawachera felt they maintained the same tenacity they displayed in their 1-0 win over Manica Diamonds last weekend.
“We did well (in the) first half. We just took over from where we left off in Mutare …
“I just asked my guys … to get into the box as much as they could … Today we scored good goals; well worked goals,’’ said Tawachera.
WhaWha coach Luke Jukulile decried wasted opportunities by his players.
“They capitalised on the first opportunities when we lapsed in concentration, especially in the opening 10 minutes, conceding two goals.
That wasn’t according to our gameplan, hence they got the motivation.
Online Reporter