CAPS UNITED...................(0)0
NGEZI PLATINUM...........(1)1
TEN-MAN Ngezi Platinum Stars maintained their six-year dominance over CAPS United after they claimed three points that saw them move within touching distance of the current PSL leaders Highlanders at Bata Stadium yesterday.
Qadr Amini (pictured) scored the solitary goal of the match with a trademark freekick as the platinum miners reduced the points deficit from pacesetters Bosso.
CAPS United have now failed to beat Ngezi Platinum Stars in a league encounter since 2017 and have lost five of their eight meetings against the platinum miners.
Although they ended the match with one man down, Ngezi Platinum put up a performance full of passion and enthusiasm as they sit two points behind Highlanders who host Black Rhinos today at Barbourfields Stadium.
Ngezi Platinum gaffer Takesure Chiragwi was elated by the win, but emphasized that his focus was not on pacesetters Highlanders.
"Our target is not Highlanders; we are playing to improve our side. That is what is important, to improve the players week in week out so that we bring confidence to the players and have consistency," he said.
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"The win is important for the team. I'm happy for us. I hope we keep this momentum. It's still early to say anything about the title.
“We need to stay focused."
Ngezi Platinum kicked off in high tempo, as Caps United soaked in the pressure during the early exchanges of the match.
They got their first chance as early as the first minute, with Takunda Benhura missing the target by a few inches with a flashing header from a delightful cross that was whipped into the box by Gareth Madhake.
Three minutes later, skipper Qadr Amini threatened again for Ngezi Platinum with a curling free-kick from just outside the box.
Caps United only managed to get into their groove after 10 minutes when Godknows Murwira tested Nelson Chadya with a free-kick from range.
Courage Sithole also broke loose on a counter attack on the15th minute, outpacing Kudzai Chigwida but his final strike was tame. For Ngezi Platinum, it was mainly Malvin Gaki who put in a good shift, with some swift forward moves. At one moment, he weaved past two Caps United defenders in the box, but his final effort was tame.
Amini broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time, from a free-kick that was won by Gaki just outside the box, beating goalie Ashley Rayners after finding the bottom left corner.
The platinum miners kept the same momentum in the second, with Gaki and Benhura combining well in attack. The two were, however, pulled out after sustaining injuries.
Ngezi were reduced to 10 men after MacDonald Makuwe was sent off for a second bookable offense.
Caps United gaffer Llyod Chitembwe accepted defeat as he picked positives from his team's performance.
"I thought we started the first half very flatly and there were situations when we had problems in one-on-one situations," he said.
"We also failed to bury the chances that came our way, we should have scored a few goals if our strikers had been clinical."
Teams
Caps United: A Rayners, G Murwira, I Zambezi, H Chapusha( R Chinyengetere 45), L Mangayira, E Manokore, B Sarupinda, T Daka, J Tulani, C Sithole, C Rupiya ( W Manondo 46)
Ngezi Platinum: N Chadya, K Chigwida, G Madhake, M Gaki( M Makuwe 65), T Benhura( E Mweha 66), P Moyo, M Mukumba, F Madhanhanga, B Mtigo( D Murimba 60), Q Amini, T Mandinyeya( A Makopa 60)
