Yadah hold FC Platinum

Tedious Manyepo Sports Reporter
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FC Platinum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0
FC PLATINUM coach Norman Mapeza lamented his strikers’ lack of killer instinct as his charges dropped two crucial points after being held to a goalless draw by a resurgent Yadah Stars in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League at Rufaro yesterday. The Zvishavane platinum miners failed to breach a Yadah Stars defence that has been impressive in recent weeks in which the Harare side have tasted success against Chicken Inn and Hwange.

Prophet Walter Magaya’s side, with a little bit of luck, could have bagged the maximum points with seven minutes to play had Munyaradzi Chiwara not frozen on the big stage after being presented with a great chance to win the contest. And Mapeza, who faces the possibility of losing his job should he fail to bring the top-flight crown to Zvishavane, was disappointed to see his men miss a plethora of chances.

“I think it is two points dropped rather than a point gained. With the position which we are in at the moment, we wanted three points,” he said. “In the first half we played well, forcing 12 corner kicks but the execution wasn’t there. “But, at the end of the day, there is nothing that I can do but go back home and continue to work. “In football sometimes you need clever players who can win you matches. We did everything but the result we wanted couldn’t just come.”

The visitors could have surged ahead in the fourth minute when veteran striker Mkhokeli Dube shrugged off his marker but shot wide with Yadah goalkeeper Samuel Mafukidze a beaten man. Ali Sadiki, Rodwell Chinyengetere and Kelvin Moyo all shot wide from promising positions.

Yadah then thought they had found the opener when the dangerous Jimmy Dzingai beat the FC Platinum ‘keeper only for his effort to be flagged for offside. The hosts also had a penalty appeal in the 45th minute turned down after Dube appeared to handle inside the box. It was a tough call against the minnows.

The Thomas Ruzive-coached team came back from the break a revitalised side, something they have done in their good run in which they have always been the better side after the break. The introduction of teenage star Leeroy Mavhunga, who replaced Milton Makopa nine minutes into the second half, breathed life into the Yadah attack.

Chiwara watched in agony as he saw his well taken curler miss the top corner with FC Platinum shot-stopper Wallace Magalane beaten. Then, with just seven minutes left, the same player could have decided this match.

Chiwara, who had a good afternoon, missed the best chance of the match in the 83rd minute when he collected the ball down the right flank, beat defender Elvis Moyo but somehow decided to go it alone from an acute angle and shot wide when he could have squared the ball to Mavhunga who was in a good position.

Two minutes later, he also saw his effort kiss the crossbar as Yadah went for the kill. At the other end, Winston Mhango’s well hit free-kick from just outside the box crashed against the cross bar to underline FC Platinum’s frustrating afternoon. Yadah coach Ruzive was happy with the point. “Playing against championship contenders was always going to be tough and we needed to contain them to get at least a point. “I am very happy my players did well and the point will go a long way in our bid to survive,” he said.