FC Platinum finally show some life
FC Platinum...........................(1) 1 Al Ahly..................................(0) 1
FC PLATINUM yesterday, put up their best display of the ongoing Caf Champions League campaign, with their efforts earning them a hard earned draw against African giants Al Ahly at Barbourfields Stadium.
Yesterday’s result saw FC Platinum securing their first point in four outings. However, they remain bottom of the group with a goal difference of minus six. FC Platinum now have two fixtures remaining, against Al Hilal at home and Étoile du Sahel in Tunisia, with the chances of progressing to the quarterfinals very slim.
Inasfar as yesterday’s game is concerned, the three-time Zimbabwean champions were certainly not outclassed by the Egyptians, and could have walked away with the full set of point.
New signing Stanley Ngala scored FC Platinum’s second goal in the competition early in the first half, cementing Pure Platinum Play’s early dominance of the encounter.
Marwan Mohsen secured the equaliser for Al Ahly at the beginning of the second stanza.
FC Platinum assistant coach, Lizwe Sweswe, while proud of the gallant display, felt that their failure to secure the three points came down to not being able to control the opening parts of the second half.
“It was a tough match, but well done to the boys for putting up a brilliant performance, especially playing against one of the biggest teams in the contest,” said Sweswe.
“We nearly got the three points, but maybe we failed to manage some quarters of the game, especially the first quarter of the second half,” Sweswe said.
Had they been sharp in front of goal, Sweswe reckoned they could have walked away with the three points.
“We gave it our all, especially in the first half, you could see how the boys were pushing until we got that goal.
“We had some chances, even in the second half. I think if our conversion rate was good we could have won this game,’’ he said.
Considering the previous three matches, Sweswe was impressed by the progress made by the team.
“I am happy with the team’s improvement,” he said.
“Looking at the previous games, which we played against these three teams, at least we’ve got some positives. We take those positives going forward into the next games.”
Rene Weiler, the Al Ahly coach, was disappointed by failing to pick up three points as that was their target.
“It was a hard game, we didn’t play well in the first half, and the second half was better.
“At the end, we are disappointed because our target was to get three points here.
“We have to accept the result, the draw was deserved for both teams,” Weiler said.
FC Platinum had a great first half and got their reward in the 19th minute when Ngala guided the ball past a wrong-footed Mohamed El-Shenawy.
Raphael Muduviwa whipped in a cross from the right, which Guyve Nsiala did well to control with his chest for Rainsome Pavari.
It was Pavari who provided the assist for Ngala.
Petros Mari produced a brilliant save to deny Oluwafemi Ajayi after a defensive blunder had presented the Nigerian with a goal scoring opportunity inside the box.
Substitute Mahmoud Soliman wasted an opportunity to equalise for Al Ahly three minutes into the second half.
It did not take long for the Egyptians to level matters. After Mhara had done well to deny Ajayi from close range, Mohsen slotted in the rebound as the FC Platinum defence failed to deal with the lurking danger.
Perfect Chikwende missed a glorious chance to put his team in front when he shot weakly at goal, with his effort not enough to trouble El-Shenawy.
The Egyptian first choice goalkeeper had to be at his best in the 82nd minute to keep out a shot by Ngala, which El-Shenawy pushed out for a corner.
TEAMS
FC Platinum: P. Mhari, P. Chikwende, K. Madzongwe, R. Muduviwa, G. Nsiala (Chinyerere 90+5 mins), W. Stima, R. Pavari, L. Mhlanga, L. Jesi (Magaya 90+1 mins), S. Ngala (Eonde, 88 mins) , T, Chikore
Al Ahly: M, El-Shenawy, R, Moustafa, M, Magdy (Soliman, 46 mins), A, Ashraf, A, Dieng (Mansour, 78 mins), A. El Solia, M. Mohsen, A. Maaloul, A. Moneim, O. Ajayi, H. da Costa (El-Sayed. 65 mins)