FC Platinum in Chibuku agony

Sport
CHAPUNGU progressed to the second round of the Chibuku Super Cup after getting the better of their Midlands rivals FC Platinum following a nervy penalty shoot-out at Mandava Stadium yesterday.

FC Platinum………..(1) 2 Chapungu…………..(1) 2

(Chapungu won 5-4 on penalties)

CHAPUNGU progressed to the second round of the Chibuku Super Cup after getting the better of their Midlands rivals FC Platinum following a nervy penalty shoot-out at Mandava Stadium yesterday.

BY TERRY MADYAUTA

The match had ended in a 2-2 stalemate in regulation time as both sides battled for a place in the second round of the prestigious knockout competition and it had to be decided in a shoot-out that saw Chapungu winning 5-4.

For the second successive season, Chapungu got the better of their opponents in this tournament after penalties as they converted all their five spot kicks through Tapiwa Kumbuyani, Xolani Ncube, Blessed Mbavarira, Edmore Muzanenhamo and Phillip Marufu.

The FC Platinum quartet of Rodwell Chinyengetere, William Stima, Kelvin Moyo and Never Tigere hit the target, but Farai Madhanhanga had his effort saved by Talbert Shumba.

Osborne Mukuradare had earlier opened the scoresheet for Chapungu in the ninth minute, getting the better of the Moyo twins, Kelvin and Elvis in defence, to slot the ball home from inside the box, with goalkeeper Francis Tizayi rooted at on spot.

But the platinum miners kept their calm until the 24th minute as they equalised through Warriors centre-back Kelvin Moyo, who got to the end of a Never Tigere corner kick with a cool finish.

There was a moment of madness when Chapungu coach Rodwell Dhlakama was red-carded by referee Artwell Mazire in the 37th minute for throwing a second ball onto the field of play.

After the break, the miners turned on the screws and it paid dividends in the 54th minute through ageless forward Mkhokheli Dube’s acrobatic finish from a delightful cross whipped in by Rahman Kutsanzira.

The soldiers refused to be buried in defeat for the third time in a row as they restored parity through Edmore Muzanenhamo with a cracker of a goal.

FC Platinum gaffer Norman Mapeza said their main focus was on winning the league.

“We lost and congratulations to Chapungu for a well-executed game plan. We cannot chase two rabbits at same time and after this loss we have to move on to the league,” he said.

“We need to remain focused because this is a game of football. You win some and lose some. We wanted to give some of our players time to play and it’s very good that they played well.”

Dhlakama was delighted after the victory.

“Like I told you, history has a tendency of repeating itself and it did today. We won today and I hope we will continue to do well in the tournament and in the league as well,” he said.

“There are a number of tough fixtures for us, but with this kind of performance, I think we will proceed to the next stage.”

Teams:

FC Platinum: F Tizayi, R Muduviwa, L Mhlanga, K Moyo, E Moyo, D Chafa, F Madhanhanga, G Mbweti (W Stima 90’), M Dube (A Eonde 76’), R Kutsanzira.

Chapungu: T Shumba, T Kumbuyani, H Mugoniwa, C Kwaramba, B Mbavarira, M Muchingami, E Chirape (C Rupiya 64’), E Muzanenhamo, O Mukuradare (P Marufu 82’), R Manuvire (B Mugoni 26’), X Ncube.