adminMONEYBAGS FC Platinum kept alive their title aspirations when they turned on a brilliant second half performance to break Hwange’s resistance in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League tie at Mandava yesterday.
Charles Sibanda and Thabani Kamusoko scored in the second half after both teams failed to break the dead-lock in the first half.
With second-paced Motor Action involved in a BancABC Sup8r semi-final assignment against Dynamos, FC Platinum’s win helped them open a five-point lead over the Mighty Bulls.
Motor Action will play Kiglon on Wednesday and if they win they will reduce the gap to two points.
Hwange did not only lose maximum points but they are likely to face the wrath of the Premier Soccer League after their players scaled the fence instead of using the designated entries.
The first half saw both teams being very cautious before Rahman Gumbo changed the game for the Zvishavane side in the second half.
Gumbo introduced Donald Ngoma in the 46th minute and changed the formation to a 4-3-3 which resulted in the team making use of the flanks.
Soccer Star of The Year, Charles Sibanda then scored his ninth goal of the season following a move involving Joel Ngodzo.
Ngodzo released for Mthulisi Maphosa who cleverly laid the ball to onrushing Sibanda who slotted the ball past a diving Timothy Sibanda the Hwange goalkeeper with two minutes after the break.
After the goal Hwange still found a lot of energy and could have equalised in the 52nd minute but Gilbert Zulu saw his effort smothered for a corner kick by Tafadzwa Dube and the visitors failed to make use of the resultant corner kick.
Sibanda who has always been a thorn in the flesh for Hwange came back to haunt his former team with another good effort in the 62nd minute.
The Hwange goalkeeper Sibanda was, however, equal to the task when he punched the ball back into play but the rebound found no takers. Siwela missed a chance for Hwange in the 63rd minute before FC Platinum had another brilliant effort saved for a corner by Sibanda.
The former Motor Action hitman Charles sold a dummy to two Hwange players and sent an inch perfect pass to Ngoma but he found the goalkeeper unyielding.
Former Dynamos livewire Benjamin Marere then saw his effort miss the target by inches in the 69th minute with the goalminder at the wrong side of the action.
With Hwange fighting hard to get an equaliser they were hit again with just three minutes to full time.
Super substitute and former Dynamos player Kamusoko did all the damage.
Khumbulani Banda dribbled past two Hwange defenders and let go a scorcher that Sibanda saved back into play and there was no black and yellow shirt to clear the ball to safety allowing the alert Kamusoko to slot the ball into the nets.
“We played very well but lacked concentration in the second half. We went to sleep and it cost us the match.
“FC Platinum is a very good team,” said the Hwange coach Tenant Chilumba.
Online Reporter