FC Platinum displace Mighty Bulls

Sport
BY BRIAN NKIWANE AND SIMBA SITHOLEBlue Ribbon... 0FC Platinum ...(1) 2FC Platinum shot to the top of the Castle Lager premiership displacing log leaders Motor Action after beating Blue Ribbon at Rufaro yesterday.

The platinum miners, who had gone for three consecutive draws, scored through midfielder Bheki Ncube in the 28th minute before Menard Mupera converted from a penalty spot in the 46th minute to put the match beyond Tambawakaguta.

The three points saw the platinum miners moving to the summit of the log table with 46 points from 24 outings and hoping that another title contender and defending champions Motor Action lose to CAPS United today.

Fans were treated to some exciting football in the first half with Blue Ribbon being the most purposeful side. It was their strikers who failed to bury the few chances that came their way.

FC Platinum dented the image of the premiership when they refused to get into the pitch through the tunnel opting to use the small gate by the VVIP stand.

Real action started in the 10th minute when Charles Sibanda’s free kick was parried over the bar by Blue Ribbon goalie Tapiwa Zvaita.Action swung from one end to the other and the opener finally came in the 28th minute when on fire Benjamin Marere roasted Clive Boroma who was playing on the left flank before releasing a cross that was met by Ncube who fired  home.

Ncube had numerous chances to put FC Platinum ahead but in most cases he directed his efforts off target.Just after the breather, Blue Ribbon introduced hard running Tineyi Chitora for Eriah Phiri and FC Platinum defenders had a torrid time keeping him under guard.

With a minute into second half, Norman Togara had a solo run from the defence before releasing a defence splitting pass that was met by Donald Ngoma who beat Boroma again in the box, but Boroma could not let him go and he was brought down. The centre man Ronald Mwanjira did not hesitate to point on the penalty spot and up stepped Mupera to send Zvaita the wrong way.After the match, FC Platinum coach Rahman Gumbo said he was happy with the win.

“We played well, managed to bury the few chances that we got and we won the match.” Gumbo dismissed reports that his club’s executive was giving him pressure to start winning matches.

But his counterpart Misheck Chidzambwa said they did not play their usual football.“We did not play at all, they played well that is why they managed to beat us,” Chidzambwa said.

Struggling Shooting Stars continued to sink deeper into the relegation zone when they lost 1-0 to Hwange at Gwanzura yesterday.Andrew Chuma’s long-range strike in the 23rd minute was enough to bury the Wild boys and earn Hwange maximum points.

Shooting Stars were wasteful in the first half with striker Tigere Mupararaganda being the main culprit.  Thosani  Sibelo sent a venomous shot for Hwange in the 38th minute which was forced out for a corner by Shooting Stars goalkeeper Willard Manyatera. With the win, Shooting moved one up on the log to 15th position.