TRIANGLE . . . . . . . 0 FC Platinum . . . .(1) 1
FC PLATINUM ramped up pressure on the leading teams and revived their own title aspirations after defeating Triangle 1-0 in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match away at Gibbo Stadium yesterday.
BY KENNETH NYANGANI IN TRIANGLE
Winstone Mhango’s penalty in the 25th minute was all the Norman Mapeza-coached side needed to keep pace with the other title chasing teams.
The match started on a slow tempo, with both sides appearing to weigh each other.
However, it was the visitors who had a first shot on target when a Nqobizita Masuku goal-bound shot was saved by Chris Mverechena on 12 minutes.
The penalty incident came when Gift Mbweti was hacked down inside the penalty area and Chiredzi-based referee Jimmy Makwanda pointed to the spot.
Mhango took the responsibility and sent Mverechena the wrong side.
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Bouyed by the goal, the visitors started dominating the match, with Mbweti and Mhango outstanding.
The home side gaffer, Taurai Mangwiro, made a tactical double substitution on the 46th minute, bringing in Courage Dennias and Maxwell Mawuna for Simba Makoni and Tarisai Rukanda respectively to try and add some verve in his team, but nothing much changed in terms of their play.
Mangwiro made another substitution in the 64th minute bringing on Eriko Phiri for Bhekimpilo Short, but still, they failed to get the equaliser.
It was instead FC Platinum who threatened to increase their lead, but Mverechena made a double save to deny Mukhokeli Dube in the 75th minute.
Mangwiro said it was a painful loss, but was hoping to recover.
“It’s a painful defeat. Today, we were passive in the opening minutes. We had a blunder at the back and gave away the penalty, it could have been avoided. But its part of the game, we hope to recover in our next match,” he said.
His counterpart Norman Mapeza said he made tactical changes after their loss against Caps United.
“With a bit of luck, we could have scored two goals. We changed our tactical approach and it paid for us today after losing against Caps United,” he said.
Teams
Triangle: C Mverechena, D Phiri, N Melson, K Chigwida, G Zhokinyi, R Kawondera, B Short (E,Phiri, 64’), T Huwa, T Rukanda (Courage Dennias, 46’), S.Makoni, (M, Mawuna, 46’), L Nhamo.
FC Platinum: W Magalane, R Muduviwa, E Moyo, K Moyo, G Bello, W Mhango, R Chinyengetere, N Masuku, A Sadiki, M Dube, G Mbweti
