Shooting Stars . . . . . . . (1) 1 FC Platinum . . . . . . . . . (1) 3
FC Platinum’s Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title dream was finally buried at Gwanzura Stadium yesterday, despite the Zvishavane-based club managing a 3-1 win over relegated Kiglon in a pulsating match.
With Dynamos defeating fellow relegated side Kiglon 2-0 across town at Rufaro, it meant the Harare giants lifted the trophy courtesy of a superior goal difference of +27 against Platinum’s +23.
Although Platinum’s title dream died definitively yesterday, its death had already taken place at Mandava Stadium last week when they went down 1-0 to Dynamos to blow a golden chance to sew up the championship.
But still Rahman Gumbo’s men had another chance to outscore Dynamos going into yesterday’s match. However, the Platinum miners were the masters of their own downfall as they wasted numerous chances which would have seen them beating Shooting Stars by a huge margin.
Donald Ngoma had a good chance after only two minutes, but watched his header being cleared from the line by Charles Mutero.
Charles Sibanda, however, thrust FC Platinum into the lead when he headed a throw in from Khumbulani into the nets.
Shooting Stars refused to be cowed into submission as they continued to thread some good passes and Tigere Muparaganda had his header saved by goalkeeper Tafadzwa Dube after 41 minutes.
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But Tonderai Marime’s men levelled matters two minutes before the break with Ozil Mupumha calmly finishing a set-up by Matsika.
With news filtering through that Dynamos were in the lead, Gumbo rang changes, bringing in Norman Maroto and William Manondo for Benjamin Marere and Ray Sibanda.
It paid off as Kiglon conceded a penalty after Tafadzwa Mazunze illegally ended Sibanda’s run into the box. Menard Mupera then converted the penalty after 55 minutes.
But Mazunze was at it again on 84 minutes, beating his own keeper Godfrey Brown with a brilliant diving header following a wonderful delivery into the box by Maroto.
