FC Platinum . . . (0) 1 Motor Action . . . 0
By own correspondent
FC Platinum recovered from last week’s 2-0 loss to Black Rhinos, albeit under controversial circumstances after being awarded a dubious 83rd minute goal following a goalmouth scramble to beat Motor Action at Mandava yesterday.
The highly contested goal saw play being stopped for close to 10 minutes after incensed Motor Action officials invaded the pitch protesting against referee Nkosana Nduna’s decision.
To add to the controversy, match commissioner Japhet Mufiri told reporters after the match that the goal had been awarded to an FC Platinum player wearing shirt number three, when apparently there was no one on the pitch wearing that number.
FC Platinum did not have anyone in their line up including substitutes wearing the shirt, but Mufiri was adamant that such a player had scored the controversial goal.
The corner kick in the 83rd minute which Raymond Sibanda curled found Daniel Veremu whose header hit the crossbar before bouncing back into play.
A goalmouth melee ensued as Motor Action players tried to clear their lines. Itai Chiwara in goals for Motor Action finally collected from what appeared to be a Nelson Maziwisa effort.
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Initial appeals from FC Platinum players for a goal were ignored by Nduna who however overturned his decision some 30 seconds later to adjudge the ball saying it had crossed the line.
Motor Action coach Joey Antipas described the referees performance as very poor.
“It was not a goal because if you look at it, the far side assistant did not signal for a goal. If football is played like this, I do not think it is worth it to continue playing,” he said.
In Beitbridge, Our Correspondent reports that the bottom of the table clash pitting Tripple B and Black Rhinos failed to produce a winner again after the two settled for a 1-1 draw at Dulibadzimu.
Aleck Marime, who is at the centre of a storm between Tripple B and Strikers FC, scored first for the Beitbridge-based side before Brian Muzondiwa equalised for the visitors to make sure they shared points.
Both sides were aiming to collect maximum points to negotiate their way from the relegation zone. The result means they both remain in the drop zone with Tripple B on 15th position while Rhinos are now on 14th position.
Tripple B opened the scoring in the third minute when Marime was fouled in the box by Clarence Zimbawu and he stepped up to slot home from the penalty spot.
Muzondiwa equalised for the visitors in the 40th minute when he finished a well co-ordinated counter attack.
In the second half, Black Rhinos dominated but they could not find the breakthrough.
After the match, Tripple B coach Peter Manoti, whose side was fresh from a 5-1 drubbing at the hands of Buffaloes in Mutare last week, praised his charges for playing well.
“We played well and if we continue playing like this we will survive relegation,” he said.
