derick.khumalo
Alberto Chamwadoro In Zvishavane
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FC Platinum 1-1 Simba Bhora
HOSTS FC Platinum and visitors Simba Bhora reserved their best for the last 20 minutes of the game to produce goals in a highly competitive Castle Lager tie at Mandava on Saturday.
Just when fans thought they had seen all the drama, the final 17 minutes had every ingredient of a thriller, stunning goals, dazzling skills and flashes of madness.
In the 74th minute, prolific striker Harrison Masina poked home what looked like a harmless strike at goal, and a minute later the dominant LuckyBets Player of the Match Godfrey Muchenje, restored parity for the home side.
In a tense first half there was little goalmouth action to talk about. The match exploded into life in the thrilling second half, albeit in the last quarter.
Creative midfielder Ishmael Nyanhi threaded a defense splitting pass and Masina burst past his marker with blistering speed to hit a seemingly harmless shot which was clumsily fumbled by Raphael Pitisi, the FC Platinum goalkeeper.
In a costly moment of madness, Masina who is now sitting on seven goals recklessly took off his shirt in celebration, and the referee flashed a yellow card. However, he was already on another yellow, hence the immediate expulsion.
While Simba Bhora was trying to frantically re-organise themselves in defence from the restart, the hungry Pure Platinum Play poured forward, and a good cross from the right by Oscar Bhebhe was powerfully headed home by Muchenje, who soared the highest inside the box to level matters.
With that goal, FC Platinum started to ask the right questions but could not find the elusive winner.
A visibly furious Mandla “Lulu” Mpofu was not pleased with the draw. He said it was two points lost rather than one point gained, and he blasted Masina, saying he deserved to be punished for his deeds.
“Today I think we lost two points. The way we played today I think it was one of our best performances ever. On a good day, I thought that was our win,” said Lulu.
“I think it’s a blow for us. At times, players must control their emotions. It was just a moment of madness, but these things happen in football.
“I am angry. I’m going to charge him as much as possible, but at the end of the day, we must accept that these things happen all over the world. But at this stage, you don’t expect that from him, considering his vast seniority. He has been in football for a long time. You must manage your excitement. That’s all — manage your excitement.”
Meanwhile, his opposite number, FC Platinum interim caretaker coach Moses Mafulirwa, was elated with the result.
“Yes, I am happy. We played very well. I think in the first half, we were supposed to wrap it up, that’s where we created a lot of clear cut chances,” said Mafulirwa.
“Then we came back in the second half, where we conceded a soft goal, which then put pressure on us to come back. But we managed to equalise quickly, and we tried by all means to get another goal, but Simba Bhora were disciplined in defence.”
