Buffaloes . . . . . (1) 1 FC Platinum . . (0) 1 Buffaloes survived an FC Platinum late onslaught to salvage a point in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Sakubva Stadium yesterday.
Harare-based referee Batsirai Muchenje hogged the limelight for a number of questionable decisions against the home side.
The match started at a brisk pace with both sides weighing each other until the 15th minute when the army side’s midfielder Never Musvipa scored his debut goal from a goalmouth melee after Platinum defenders failed to clear their lines.
The former Chicken Inn player executed a bicycle kick in a crowded box.
Platinum’s Quadr Amini then saw his long-range shot from the centre circle miss the target by inches with Buffaloes goal-minder Hopeful Bere a beaten man.
After the breather Platinum were the better side as they pinned their opponents in their own half and they were duly rewarded in the 70th minute from the boot of Allan Gahadzikwa.
Bere failed to hold clean a Tafadzwa Dube long clearance and the former Motor Action hit-man followed up for the rebound.
In the 72nd minute Buffaloes were felt hard done after referee Muchenje waved play on after striker Vincent Makaka was pushed from behind by Daniel Vheremu in the penalty box.
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As pressure mounted for the soldiers, Bere was called into action to tip the ball over the bar after Benjamin Marere shot from close range to a corner-kick.
Nine minutes later a Marere goal was disallowed for offside after again Bere had failed to handle an Ali Sadiki shot.
Buffaloes head coach Saul Chaminuka blamed the referee for the result: “We played well, we failed to handle long balls and we conceded a silly goal. I think the referee also frustrated my side with a number of questionable decisions.”
Platinum interim head coach Tendai Chikuni said the pitch affected their play.
‘’The pitch affected us and we did not play our normal game. We did not play well in the first half,’’ he said.
