Harare City . . .0 FC Platinum . . . (1) 2
BY Our Staff
Two goals in each half were all FC Platinum needed to collect precious three points against Harare City in a Castle Lager Premiership match at Rufaro yesterday.
The platinum miners scored through Walter Musona who had an easy assignment of directing a Raymond Sibanda goal-bound effort into the net off an Obrey Chirwa corner kick while second half substitute Donald Ngoma had another easy task of heading home another Chirwa chip.
The win saw the youthful Norman Mapeza-coached side remain rooted on sixth position, but closed the gap on Hwange who are on fifth position. Both teams are now on 38 points with Hwange still to play How Mine this afternoon.
The match had started on a high tempo with FC Platinum outplaying their opponents in all departments. They had their first attempt at goal as early as the second minute when Wisdom Mutasa shot straight into the hands of Maxwell Nyamupangedengu from a free kick just outside the penalty box.
Before long, Nyamupangedengu was called to action again to deny Mutasa from a close range shot.
In the eighth minute, it was Musona’s chance to be denied by Nyamupangedengu after he got to the end of a Mutasa through ball.
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After the three shots, FC Platinum turned on the heat, displaying some classy football in all departments, outplaying Harare City but they were only rewarded in the 27th minute after repeated efforts to break the Harare City defence marshalled by veteran defender David Kutyauripo.
FC Platinum forced a corner which was blocked by Kutyauripo but only as far as Sibanda, whose shot towards goal was directed in the far corner by Musona.
After the breather, Harare City coach Masimba Dinyero breathed life into his players as they came back a changed side.
The Sunshine City boys outplayed their opponents and pushed for an equaliser which could not come.
Striker Osborne Mukuradare came with the miss of the day when a low cross by Talent Chawapiwa eluded FC Platinum defenders before he coolly controlled it, only to shoot weakly at goal.
As they pushed for the equaliser, they were caught napping in the 89th minute when FC Platinum surged ahead on a counter attack, only for Chirwa — the provider of both the goals — to beat Nyamupangedengu with a chip that Ngoma headed home, much to the delight of FC platinum travelling fans.
FC Platinum coach Mapeza said they had done themselves a favour by playing well in the first half and managing to with stand the heat in the second half.
“We had our own half where we played well and managed to defend well in the second half where Harare City dominated,” Mapeza said.
His opposite number Dinyero blamed his team for failing to make use of chances that came their way.
“We created our own chances but failed to score while FC Platinum took theirs. We have to work hard in our next match,” Dinyero said.
