Advantage DeMbare as FC Platinum disconnect ZPC Kariba
By Saul Mundandi
ZVISHAVANE – FC Platinum continued with their fine form with a clinical destruction of title chasing ZPC Kariba in an absorbing Castle Premier Soccer League tie at Mandava yesterday.
Second half goals from the fast developing Wisdom Mutasa and substitute Simon Shoko carried the day for the home side who exhibited a swift passing game but lacked precision in front of goal especially in the first half.
The result was greeted with cheer by the Dynamos camp as the champions have a chance of opening a five point gap between them and the Premiership debutantes with victory over struggling Chapungu at Rufaro this afternoon.
For ZPC Kariba, the defeat dealt a heavy blow to their title ambitions and their coach Saul Chaminuka, who has always insisted that his charges are not fighting for the league title, conceded that a top of the log finish looks beyond them.
Chaminuka rued the injury suffered by Elvis Meleka for his team’s defeat, arguing that the midfield workhorse’s withdrawal at the end of the first half, swung the midfield battle in favour of the home side.
“It’s a blow to us but we need to bounce back and ensure that we get at least a top four finish so that we get a chance to play in the Mbada Diamonds Cup,” he said.
“We started well but the injury to Meleka was a massive blow to us. We also badly missed Pride Tafirenyika in the middle of the park and I wouldn’t want to comment on the reasons why he was unavailable.
“After this defeat it’s clear that we have to re-look at the way we approach games from now on.”
Tafirenyika was serving a one match suspension after accumulating three yellow cards.
On the flip side, the win saw FC Platinum take their points tally to 41 points from 25 games.
Coach Norman Mapeza welcomed the result but was quick to note that his young side is yet to play at full throttle.
“It’s a welcome result, we played as a team. However, this result should not fool us because there is a lot of work that needs to be done and we will do it,” he said.
FC Platinum made a blistering start to the game and Obrey Chirwa ought to have thrust them into lead with just 90 seconds on the clock but the Zambian import shot wide when Tonderai Mateyaunga, the ZPC goalie, was stranded.
Mateyaunga has a busy opening and did well to deny Mutasa from close range on 10 minutes.
ZPC had their first sniff at goal with 28 minutes gone, veteran striker Limited Chikafa, shooting straight at Petros Mhari after being set up by Meleka, who would later limp off with a suspected muscle strain.
The home side were quick off the blocks in the second half too and took the lead on 46 minutes, Mutasa slotting home after Mateyaunga had spilled a swerving Chirwa shot.
Mapeza was forced to pull out his goal scorer on 75 minutes after an injury and his replacement, Shoko, did not need much time to make it 2-0.
Shoko found the target with curling shot after being sent clear by Tatenda Dzumbunu, who had delightfully exchanged passes with substitute Donald Ngoma on 85 minutes. The Sunday Mail
Teams:
FC Platinum: P Mhari, R Muduviwa, E Moyo, G Bello, K Moyo, A Mukwenya, O Chirwa (N Ngoma 76 mins), T Dzumbunu, W Mutasa (S Shoko 75 mins), T Kamusoko, W Musona
ZPC Kariba: T Mateyaunga, O Mwerahari, E Mwinga, D Dauda, T Munyanduri, E Meleka (P Makanje 44 mins), T Gondo, T Rantokoane, T Nyamandwe, L Chikafa, P Muzondo.
