Ngezi crush Hwange

Lloyd Mwale in Ngezi
Ngezi Platinum 4-1 Hwange

GODKNOWS Murwira scored direct from a corner as Ngezi Platinum Stars continued with their fine run in the Castle Lager Premiership with a comfortable win over Hwange at Baobab yesterday.

The former Shabanie Mine and Dynamos utility man celebrated his first brace in style to help the platinum miners cement their place at the top of the table with their 11th win of the season.

Ngezi Platinum Stars, who now enjoy a two-point cushion at the top, had a fruitful outing at home with striker Terrence Dzvukamanja and Qadr Amini also registering their names on the scoresheet.

Hwange were the first to settle and they found the opening goal as early as the ninth minute when Shepherd Gadzikwa nodded the ball past goalkeeper Nelson Chadya from an aerial ball by Nomore Chinyerere.

But it did not take Ngezi Platinum long to level terms.

Murwira scored one of the strange goals at the venue when his corner kick evaded the Hwange defenders and goalkeeper Taimon Mvula and sailed into the nets direct from the corner flag.

Murwira scored his second goal of the afternoon in the 31st minute after his low shot proved too much for the keeper.

And before the visitors could organise themselves, Dzvukamanja struck when he turned his marker and slid the ball past the advancing goalkeeper in the 33rd minute.

Hwange, who are now under new coach Bigboy Mawiwi, battled hard to reduce the arrears at the resumption but found the Ngezi defence, marshalled by skipper Partson Jaure, impenetrable.

Amini sealed the game for the home side in the 51st minute when he met a corner from Murwira and made no mistake from close range.

The visitors survived another close shave when Dzvukamanja’s acrobatic kick was denied by the crossbar in the 59th minute.

Walter Mukanga also forced a good save from the keeper Mvula when he unleashed a powerful shot with 15 minutes remaining.

Ngezi remains top of the table with 37 points.

Teams
Ngezi Platinum:  N. Chadya, Q. Amini, K. Murera, P. Jaure, L. Chakoroma (X. Moyo, 76th min), G. Murwira, W. Mukanga, T. Dzvukamanja (M. Mlilo, 86th min),  D. Tavari, T. Mabvura, C. Augusto (M. Kwinjo, 76th min).

Hwange: T. Mvula, K. Matake, W. Munorwei, R. Moyo, G. Ndlovu, A. Chuma, S. Gadzikwa, C. Muleya, C. Muvuti, J. Kaunda, N. Chinyerere.