FC Platinum stretch lead
FC Platinum ...................................... (0) 1 Bulawayo City ......................................... 0
FC Platinum extended their lead at the top of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League when they overcame a fighting Bulawayo City thanks to a last gasp goal by Rodwell Chinyegetere.
FC Platinum are now five points clear from second placed Highlanders, who meet Caps United at the National Sports Stadium in Harare this afternoon.
Chinyegetere headed in the priceless goal capitalising on a jittery Liberty Chirava in goals for Bulawayo City just a minute from full time after he (Chinyegetere) was found by a beautiful cross from defender Ian Nekati.
And yet the writing was always on the wall, that something unimaginable was about to happen at the cost of Amakhosi, and the culprit would be their goal minder. Earlier on in the second half Chirava was found in sixes and sevens when he failed to deal with a speculative effort from Marshall Mudehwe on the 80th minute, but the speedy Platinum striker shook his head in disbelief has he watched his effort wickedly ricochet from the post after eluding the suspect Chirava.
And yet the home side were the better side for the most part of the game, and there were no surprises that it took a Chinyegetere 43rd minute effort to witness an FC Platinum’s meaningful shot at goal. Earlier on and barely 20 minutes into the game an on fire Eddie Nkulungo could have seen City grab the crucial lead, but a scorcher from just outside the box hit the side netting, before another from the same “culprit’’ was directed “hay wire” from a Morris Kadzola cross 10 minutes later.
Then everything appeared to have been left to striker Mkhokheli Dube who two minutes later found himself in a promising position but was stopped dead in his tracks by an alert Gift Bello as he went for the kill.
The same player in a carbon copy of the earlier opportunity four minutes from half-time was inhibited by an alert Kelvin Moyo to mark a woeful finishing by the home side who missed two other opportunities, Nkulungo (50th min) and substitute Humphrey Ncube in the 76th minute.
However, the visitors were thrown a lifeline when Michael Kawashu collided with City defender Peace Tshuma, with the latter stretchered of the field and could not make a comeback.
There was no replacement for Tshuma as City had already exhausted their quota of substitutions. FC Platinum took advantage of their numerical advantage and duly grabbed all the three points thanks to the Chinyengetere goal.
After the match FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza admitted that the match was “difficult’’ but was happy that they got all the three points at stake.
“It was a difficult game for us. We were forced to make a double substitution. We looked better in midfield (after the substitutions) and that helped us a lot when moving forward. Luck was on our side today,’’ said Mapeza who brought in Nqobizitha Masuku for Gerald Takwara and Walter Musona for Charles Sibanda at the restart of the game.
City coach Philani “Beefy’’ Ncube bemoaned the fact that they failed to utilise the chances that came their way despite their dominance and that the injury to Peace proved the turning point.