FC Platinum . .. (1) (3) WhaWha . . . . . . . . (0)
FC PLATINUM sent another timely reminder of intent to wrestle the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title from Dynamos with a convincing victory over WhaWha at Mandava stadium yesterday.
BY MUKUDZEI CHINGWERE
A brace by Zambian import forward Obrey Chirwa and a solitary strike by wingback Elvis Moyo ensured FC Platinum avenged their league 2-1 defeat to the same opponents in the opening stanza of the campaign.
The outcome leaves the miners on 48 points, just four points shy of leaders Chicken Inn, who also won their match yesterday, to pile the pressure on third-placed Dynamos ahead of their match against Harare City today.
The prison wardens remain stuck on 13th position and their future in the elite league is now uncertain.
FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza lauded his charges for a job well-done, but continued to shy away from the title chasers tag.
“We were a little bit under pressure because of the performance in the previous matches but the guys did well today. We do not focus on other matches; we just focus on ours and see what happens at the end of the day,” said Mapeza. Losing coach Lloyd Mutasa bemoaned sloppy defending for the loss, casting further doubts about his charges’ ability to survive the dreaded chop.
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“At this stage of the competition, you do not make such mistakes. If the guys have character we can survive, but with the way they played today, it is difficult. We have 15 points to play for and it’s now up to the boys to show character in the remaining matches,” said Mutasa.
The hosts surged ahead in the ninth minute when Chirwa dispossessed Stanely Chakwana in goal for WhaWha to give the miners a nerve-calming lead. Chakwana had failed to quickly release a back pass he received from Nigel Gandari. With WhaWha’s chances few and far between, Chirwa was unfortunate not to make it two for his side 11 minutes before the breather with his shot inches wide after he had outpaced the entire visiting defence.
After the half-time pep talk, the visitors were more confident on the ball, with Khama Chidzero trying his luck from a distance but it went wide.
In the 58th minute the visitors’ chances of salvaging something from the game were quashed when Chakwana fumbled Moyo’s free kick, to give the miners a two goal lead.
Chirwa completed his brace nine minutes from time, after he was released by Brian Muzondiwa to slot home past an exposed Chakwana.
