BULAWAYO – Log leaders FC Platinum were handed a 2-0 defeat on the road by Chicken Inn in a league match that was played on Thursday afternoon at Luveve Stadium in Bulawayo.
Defender Mpumelelo Bhebhe as well as supersub Genius Mutungamiri were on target for the Gamecocks.
It was a game of two halves with the visitors dominating the first half while the hosts returned from the break a completely much different team.
The moment that everyone was waiting for came in the 68th minute when tall and lanky Bhebhe rose unchallenged to head home a Michael Charamba cross.
It was a deserved lead for Chicken Inn who dominated the second stanza and kept on piling the pressure upfront looking to double their lead.
Just 13 minutes later after Bhebhe’s goal, it paid off for the Gamecocks and they doubled their advantage through a clinical finish from substitute Mutungamiri in the 81st minute.
His left footed hard and low shot from inside the box hit the back of the net sealing the victory for the Gamecocks.
FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza made some changes bringing in Oscar Bhebhe for Jarison Selemani and Wilfred Muvirimi for Thando Ngwenya.
Furthermore, Mapeza also introduced Shepherd Mhlanga replacing Polyester Shoko with 15 minutes left to full time.
Nevertheless, these changes made no difference as a solid Chicken Inn held on to the 2-0 lead until the final whistle.
Chicken Inn coach Joey Antipas was a delighted man after the match.
“I thank the boys for putting on a splendid performance throughout the game. FC Platinum (are a good side) if you give them time and space to play they will play but we closed them down perfectly as we didn’t give them much space to play.
“Most of the times they ended up playing long balls. What we did in the second half since we were playing with three defenders was using switch off play, thats where we did it right,” he said.
Antipas’ counterpart, Mapeza said: “Well done to Chicken Inn, I think in the second half they did very well. It was my first time to lose a game against Chicken Inn in Bulawayo.”
Mapeza bemoaned injuries and suspension following the absence of platinum’s key players Juan Mutudza, Hagiazo Magaya and Brian Banda.
FC Platinum’s defeat sees the title race wide open with second placed Simba Bhora who defeated Highlanders 2-1 on Wednesday hot on their heels.
Platinum have 39 points while Simba are 37 points after 20 matches.
Third placed Ngezi Platinum Stars have 35 points while Manica Diamonds who on are on fourth have 34 points.
