dyton mupawaenda
Tadious Manyepo in MHONDORO-NGEZI
Ngezi Platinum Stars . . . . . . . . . . (0)1
Yadah. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
NGEZI Platinum Stars made a huge step towards the league title though they had to dig deeper for this Castle Lager Premier Soccer League victory at Baobab yesterday.
Defender Kudzai Chigwida scored the all-important goal very late in the game to secure the maximum points for the home side.
With 57 points in the bag, the Mhondoro team restored their eight-point gap at the top although second-placed Dynamos still have an outstanding fixture.
Ngezi Platinum need 11 points from the remaining five games to take the title to Mhondoro.
It was a nervy encounter with so much tension between two clubs chasing contrasting goals.
Probably Yadah needed the points more than Ngezi Platinum given the precarious situation they are in.
The Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries team now need a miracle to survive especially after yesterday’s debacle. Swimming in the red zone and desperate to breathe some life into their faltering campaign, Yadah were bound to throw a good fight.
They fought tooth and nail, pushing the favourites to their corner at times and with a little bit of luck they could have even emerged from this tie with the maximum points.
But Ngezi Platinum Stars deserved to win though they had to do it the hard way. After squandering too many clear-cut scoring opportunities in the opening half with Delic Murimba, Takunda Benhura and Bruno Mtigo the guilty parties, the hosts were almost made to pay for it by their guests who looked more focused in the second half.
Coach Takesure Chiragwi needed to take responsibility as the match seemed headed for a draw.
That would have meant dropping five points in a matter of four days after losing 2-1 against Dynamos at the National Sports Stadium last Wednesday.
The former Shabanie Mine gaffer just did the right thing, bringing on captain Qadr Amini, who has been the team’s X-factor this season for the faltering Ellson Mweha.
He also introduced Marvellous Mukumba, Claude Mapoka, Malvin Gaki and Nigel Makumbe all within all within a short space as he went for the kill.
Makumbe was a huge let down though as he seemed lost and not sure of the task he had been introduced for.
Amini was a marvel and should have recorded at least three assists had Tapiwa Mandinyenya and Mtigo done justice to his accurate crosses.
Mapoka did put the ball into the net with 10 minutes to play as the home team relentlessly bombarded their visitors but controversial referee Jimmy Makwanda ruled that Yadah goalkeeper Marshal Takarinda had been infringed.
But there was no doubt five minutes later after Amini found Chigwida inside the box with the latter slicing the ball beyond Takarinda’s reach to seal the win.
Chiragwi admitted the match was tough.
“It was a really tough match. We created a lot of chances but on more than three occassions, we switched off at the wrong moment,” said Chiragwi.
“But my players showed a lot of mental strength. We never tried to alter the way we play, we maintained our shape and this is the reward. I am very happy with the points”.
His counterpart, Maxwell Takaendesa said his team gave it their all although he felt they should have defended better than they did when conceding the late goal.
Teams
Ngezi Platinum Stars
Nelson Chadya, Kudzai Chigwida, Polite Moyo, Ellson Mweha(Qadr Amini 57min), Takunda Benhura, Gareth Madhake, Leslie Kashitigu(Marvellous Mukumba 46min), Farai Madhanaga, Bruno Mtigo(Nigel Makumbe 56min), Tapiwa Mandinyenya(Malvin Gaki 67min), Delic Murimba (Claude Mapoka 78min)
Yadah
Marshal Takarinda, Tawanda Chikumba, King Nadolo(Wellington Kamudyariwa 24min), Clive Mandivei, Brian Kadamanja, Emmanuel Saidi, Tawanda Musariri, Junior Zindoga, Charles Moffat(Dieved Brito 84min), Jerry Chipangura, Marvellous Faranando
Online Reporter