CHICKEN INN… 0 NGEZI PLATINUM… 0
NGEZI Platinum put an end to Chicken Inn’s five-match winning streak to reclaim the top spot in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League in a dull encounter that did not befit a top-of-the-table tag at Luveve Stadium yesterday.
BY FORTUNE MBELE
The first half was an uninspiring affair with each side not opening up or showing any signs or intention to get a goal until after the break.
Tichaona Mabvura got the first meaningful attack of the game, shooting from outside the penalty box three minutes from the breather but had his effort saved by Chicken Inn goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze.
Mabvura also had a handful of Ngezi Platinum fans’ celebration short-lived in the 54th minute after he packed a shot past Chipezeze but he had been flagged down for offside.
The platinum miners continued to pile pressure on Chicken Inn but the goals did not come and despite stopping the former champions’ unbeaten run, they have now gone four matches without a win.
The visitors’ coach Tonderai Ndiraya said despite his team’s failure to collect maximum points, he was impressed by the way his boys played.
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“Coming from a difficult home game where we dropped points against Bantu Rovers, I think we acquitted ourselves well. We knew Chicken Inn were a good side. We did not want to come here and open ourselves up,” he said.
“We pushed harder and could have got something out of it but overall I am happy.”
Chicken Inn moved to second spot at par on 28 points with Ngezi Platinum and coach Rahman Gumbo said a draw was a fair result for his side.
“It was a fair result. It was a very tactful game. They [Ngezi] came prepared for a draw. I think we played well and a draw was a fair result for us,” Gumbo said.
Chicken Inn had their share of chances in the second half through young striker Thomas Kadyaridzire and defender Moses Jackson but they were both denied by Ngezi goalkeeper Nelson Chadya.
Teams
Chicken Inn: E Chipezeze, P Bernard, D Lunga, M Jackson, G Goddard, C Matawu, C Samakweri (G Majika 66’), T Goredema, T Kutinyu, T Kadyaridzire, D Nyandoro (I Lawe 81’)
Ngezi Platinum: N Chadya, Q Amini, D Tavari, T Dzukamanja (D Teguru 75’), W Mukanga, T Mabvura (M Kwinjo 90+1’), D Mukandi, K Murera, C Augusto (M Phiri 57’), X Moyo, G Murwira
