FC Platinum (0) (1) Chicken Inn (1) (1)
Football fans got more than they had bargained for when title protagonists FC Platinum and Chicken Inn played an entertaining game of football at Mandava Stadium yesterday.
By MUKUDZEI CHINGWERE
Chicken Inn’s Passmore Benard fired the visitors into the lead before his effort was cancelled by Charles Sibanda in the second half to ensure a share of points.
Both sides came into the duel with the aim of winning the league’s ultimate price.
Chicken Inn gate-crashed the title matrix with their coach Rahman Gumbo making a bold statement that he was gunning for the title.
His message was almost confirmed with an imposing start to the match by taking the game to the hosts and despite conceding late, Chicken Inn are joint on top of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League with Ngezi Platinum.
FC Platinum, with the two points they dropped, are now on level points with Dynamos who are slowly gaining ground in the title chase equation.
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After the final whistle, Gumbo said the result augurs well with their ambitions for the title.
“Teams like FC Platinum, Ngezi Platinum and Dynamos are in the race for the title and getting a point away from home against the teams in the title race is a good result,” Gumbo said.
“I do not mince my words. I do not train for nothing, we are in the race to win it and I tell my players that as well.
“A draw was a fair result and we played well. We forced FC Platinum to change the way they play their game.”
FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza was also happy with a point gained.
“It was a good game of football and I think a draw was a fair result for both teams. It was unfortunate that we conceded late in the first half,” Mapeza said.
“But the guys did very well to come back into the match in the second half. Towards the end, we could have scored more goals because Chicken Inn guys were tired.”
The visitors opened the scoring when Obadiah Tarumbwa flighted a corner kick which was headed by Moses Jackson, but the effort was repelled, giving Bernard the opportunity to slot home the lead.
After the breather, FC Platinum chased the match, introducing veteran striker Takesure Chinyama whose contribution to the match was minimal.
Sibanda cancelled the lead for the visitors when he flicked home a cross from Gerald Takwara.
