Five-star Ngezi soar to the top

NGEZI PLATINUM STARS . . . . (3)5 ZPC KARIBA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1)1

IT was a good day in the o ce for Ngezi Platinum Stars after they scored ve past a hapless ZPC Kariba and moved to the top of the log standings, for at least a night at Baobab Stadium yesterday.

After kicking o the season with four consecutive draws, the Mhondoro-Ngezi-based side have now won three in a row and remain unbeaten in the campaign after seven matches.

Walter Vuwa scored a goal in each half with other goals coming from Nigel Makumbe, Takunda Benhura, and Leslie Kashitigu.

ZPC got a consolation goal from Leeroy Murape.

Ngezi Platinum coach Takesure Chiragwi was pleased with the performance.

"I think we had a good day in the ofce. It's good playing at home and this is our rst win here. I think it's a massive win for us. I am happy with the boys and the way we played. We really wanted to win, our gameplan was to win the game in the rst 15 minutes," he said

The hosts nosed ahead in just the second minute of the match from a brilliant setpiece by Makumbe.

The early lead seemed to have spurred on the hosts as they created an avalanche of chances and it was no surprise when they doubled the lead halfway through the rst half.

Vuwa produced a piece of individual brilliance, creating space before beating an out-of-sorts Tatenda Munditi from outside the box.

Barely six minutes later Takunda Benhura headed home a third after getting to the end of captain Qadr Amini's cross.

The visitors, who had been playing well in the rst half but lacking bite upfront, pulled one back through a headed goal by Leeroy Murape from a Kuzivakwashe Madima cross to keep the match alive.

Ngezi Platinum continued on the offensive after the breather and were rewarded on the hour mark. Leslie Kashitigu scored a scorcher nding the top corner from just outside the center circle.

The goal summed up a miserable afternoon for ZPC Kariba goalminder Munditi.

Vuwa reproduced the goal he scored in the rst half only this time he nished with the left foot to complete his brace in the 67th minute.

ZPC were forced to pull out Munditi for Tapiwa Chilenga.

The visitors did not put up much of a ght in the second half and their coach Darlington Dodo felt fatigue a ected the team due to playing all matches away from home.

"We gave away soft goals, but the main thing I am observing with my boys is that fatigue has crept in and it's tough for them now. We travel a lot, right now we are going to Kariba, next week we are going to Chiredzi. If you look at the distances, the times we train, the recovery period, it's taxing," he said.

Castle Lager Premier Soccer League results and xtures

Today: Caps United v Dynamos (National Sports Stadium), Highlanders v Hwange (Barbour elds), Triangle v Chicken Inn (Gibbo), Cranborne Bullets v Sheasham (Baobab)

Tomorrow: Herentals v FC Platinum (National Sports Stadium)

Yesterday: Manica Diamonds 4-0 Black Rhinos, Ngezi Platinum 5-1 ZPC Kariba, Bulawayo Chiefs 2-1 Yadah