WALTER Musona scored twice as FC Platinum recorded only their second win of the season over Tsholotsho in an entertaining Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match played at Mandava Stadium yesterday.
BY MUKUDZEI CHINGWERE
FC Platinum ……(0) 3 Tsholotsho…….. 0
Musona’s brace and a solitary strike from Brian Muzondiwa ensured the hosts collected their second set of maximum points this season after beating Flame Lily by the same scoreline at the same venue. With the win Platinum moved to 11th place from 13th with seven points from seven starts.
After the match coach Norman Mapeza was a happy man lauding his charges for a job well done. “We have been playing well of late but it was just unfortunate that results were not coming our way. “I am happy the guys never looked down when results were not coming our way. Now the most important thing is consistence after this game,” said Mapeza.
Losing coach Lizwe Sweswe conceded that his side was just unfortunate to lose. “The guys played well but we were just unfortunate to lose. You know when you concede a goal from nothing it is difficult to comeback. But generally I am happy with the performance of the team,” said Sweswe.
Central defender Gift Bello came close to opening the scoring after 20 minutes of action when his goal bound header from an Elvis Moyo cross was blocked by Gerald Takwara, but the hosts failed to capitalise on the goal mouth melee that followed.
On the opposite end Kudzanai Machazane was unfortunate that his long range effort missed the target, which could have caught FC Platinum goalkeeper Francis Tizayi off guard. Muzondiwa was released after 34 minutes of action but failed to find his way past a composed Spa Dube.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Three minutes later Bello controlled well inside the box a cross from Musona but the centre back delayed pulling the trigger allowing Tsholotsho to clear their lines. Muzondiwa got another chance but failed to tap in a cross from Allen Gahadzikwa.
Machazane failed again to break the deadlock on the stroke of halftime when he pushed his shot wide after the ball had fallen kindly in his path.
Ten minutes after the breather Mapeza introduced his star midfielder Wisdom Mutasa who was a surprise exclusion from the starting team to challenge Takwara who had won the midfield battle for the visitors.
Three minutes later Tsholotsho’s defense barricade which had hitherto stood firm was breached when Donald Ngoma pushed the ball into the path of Muzondiwa who fired home the opener.
In the 70th minute Tizayi justified why his coach included him in the starting lineup ahead of regular starter Petros Mhari when he pushed for a corner Evans Sibanda’s brilliantly executed shot.
Three minutes later Musona doubled the lead when he converted from a spot kick after Donald Dzvinyai was adjudged to have fouled Tarisai Rukanda inside the box by the referee.
Musona completed his brace 10 minutes before full-time when he ran for a long ball and chipped Chang Marion in goal for Tsholotsho.
