Ngezi edge Gamecocks to keep title hopes alive

By Lloyd Mwale in Mhondoro Ngezi
Ngezi Platinum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Chicken Inn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0

LOG leaders Ngezi Platinum stars kept their first ever title hopes alive with a 1-0 win over visiting Chicken Inn and opened a six-point lead after second placed FC Platinum fell to Zpc Kariba.

In a game in which the visitors threatened to overrun the hosts as early as the sixth minute, Malvin Hwata’s shot went wide with Ngezi keeper Nelson Chadya glued to the turf and two minutes later Chadya was called again to save with both legs a Michael Charamba weak shot inside the box before Kudzi Chigwida cleared to safety.

Ngezi crept into the game later when Bruno Mtigo weaved past Chicken Inn defenders only to release a weak shot.

In the 32nd minutes Captain Qadr Amin could not believe his freekick going wide after Claude Mapoka had been brought down just outside the box.

With Ngezi enjoying better exchanges, Ngezi surged ahead through Malvin Gaki in the 36th minute from a Gareth Madhake pass.

With the slender lead Ngezi began to dictate the game much to their advantage.

After the break Chicken Inn threw all men in attack looking for an equaliser but found Ngezi back four unyielding.

Chicken Inn would have found the equaliser in the 50th minute through a Michael Charamba freekick but his effort missed the target by a whisker and in the 86th minute Brighton Ncube failed to punish

Ngezi after getting a chance with a yawning net in his front.

In a post match interview Takesure Chiragwi said his charges played according to their game plan.

“I think it went well for our game plan, we lost last week in Mandava but look today we managed to win, we had several chances and the boys  showed character,” said Chiragwi.

While Chiragwi praised his charges for showing character Chicken Inn coach Prince Matore said his charges slept on duty resulting in the defeat.

‘‘This loss, we did everything but we slept on duty which resulted in Ngezi getting the goal, it was a lucky goal,” said the Gamecocks gaffer.