CHICKEN INN . . . . . . (0) 1 FC PLATINUM . . . . . . (1) 1
BY SAKHELENI NXUMALO
LOG leaders Chicken Inn maintained their four-point lead at the summit of the Castle Lager Premiership log table and edged a step closer to winning the championship following their one-all draw with close rivals, FC Platinum at Luveve Stadium yesterday.
GameCocks’ veteran linkman, Clemence Matawu struck on 48 minutes to cancel out FC Platinum midfielder Tatenda Dzumbunu’s first half opener.
The platinum miners finished the match a man less after striker Brian Muzondiwa was sent off after picking up a second yellow card on 72 minutes.
The Warriors striker picked up his first caution 10 minutes into the second half for a foul on Chicken Inn skipper, Danny Phiri and received his marching orders after he was shown a second yellow for simulation.
Chicken Inn head coach, Joey Antipas said he was happy after picking up a point.
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“It was a tight affair, but one thing for sure, I cannot complain about getting a point as it keeps the status quo. We would have loved to get the three points, but all I can say is that the race is still on,” he said.
Similar sentiments were shared by his FC Platinum counterpart, NormanMapeza, who described the point his side picked up as vital.
“I think it’s a vital point for us and we just have got to go back and keep working hard. For us, it is a point gained rather than a point lost and you never know what could happen considering that there are 12 points still to be played for,” Mapeza said.
Chicken Inn took their points tally to 53 after yesterday’s draw, while second placed FC Platinum now have 49 points to their credit.
The match was a game of two halves, the visitors having the upper hand in the first half, with the speedy Marshall Mudehwe outstanding on the right flank.
Mudehwe’s pace and dribbling skills gave Chicken Inn leftback, Brian Mbiriri a torrid time and it was from that flank that the visitors created their goal, with Muzondiwa providing the assist for Dzumbunu on 16 minutes. After the break, Chicken Inn turned the tables and gave the visitors a taste of their own medicine by making a tactical changes that saw Edmore Chirambadare switching from centre forward to the left flank and that move saw the FC Platinum defence being stretched.
The hosts’ early second half pressure paid dividends when the ageless Matawu rifled home three minutes after the restart, when he was gifted with the ball by the otherwise impressive FC Platinum holding midfielder Winston Mhango.
Teams
Chicken Inn Elvis Chipezeze, John Bernard, Brian Mbiriri, Moses Jackson, Lawrence Mhlanga, Danny Phiri, Clemence Matawu, George Majika (Canaan Nkomo 80), Toto Banda, Edmore Chirambadare and Michelle Katsvairo (Ishmael Lawe 80).
FC Platinum Petros Mhari, Ian Nekati, Elvis Moyo, Gift Bello, Kelvin Moyo, Winston Mhango, Gerald Takwara, Tatenda Dzumbunu (Simon Shoko 60), Marshal Mudehwe, Brian Muzondiwa and Obrey Chirwa
