MANICA DIAMONDS . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 1
FC PLATINUM . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . (1) 2
Juan Mutudza's brace helped FC Platinum to come from behind to secure a victory against Manica Diamonds at Gibbo Stadium yesterday.
It was a crucial win for the defending champions' aspirations to retain the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title.
Brett Amidu gave the home side a 21st-minute lead, tapping home from a rebound after goalkeeper Wallace Magalane had punched out a Ralph Kawondera header.
But the Norman Mapeza-coached side roared back through a sweet left-footed strike by Mutudza two minutes into referee's first-half optional time.
The midfielder added his second with a smart header on 77th minute to secure a vital win over title rivals who they overtook in the race for the championship.
FC Platinum's fourth consecutive league win saw them move to third position on the table with 43 points, eight behind log leaders Ngezi Platinum Stars, with eight rounds of matches left to play.
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Manica Diamonds dropped to fourth position with 42 points, and are in danger of losing that position to fifth-placed Dynamos who play Triangle here this afternoon.
Coach Norman Mapeza was drooling over his side’s performance yesterday.
“We were in control of everything, then we conceded against the run of play, but we managed to regroup and got that equaliser. We played some good football today. We knew it was going to be a tough match because Manica Diamonds have been playing well. For us we managed to brush aside what happened last Saturday when we lost to Dynamos (in the Chibuku Super Cup). We really needed these points today in this game. Now our focus goes to the Ngezi game on Saturday,” Mapeza said.
Manica Diamonds assistant coach Tafadzwa Mashiri was disappointed by the way his side failed to protect its lead.
“Very competitive game it was, and a very good first half for us in that we managed to score and also created numerous chances which we should have put away. Unfortunately, we were not that clinical. Very worrying is our failure to defend and protect our lead. It's the second successive game we have given away a lead in a very disappointing manner. We could have done better. We should have taken our lead to the half time break and have a good plan for the second half. We came back in the second half with the stakes already against us,” Mashiri said.
FC Platinum monopolised possession as has become their trademark but their forwards failed to do justice.
Jarrison Selemani headed over from close range from a precise Perfect Chikwende tap in on the 20th minute.
The glaring miss was punished immediately at the other end.
Fortune Binzi, lucky to be still on the pitch after a hard tackle on Rainsome Pavari, which drew a yellow card from the referee, provided a superb inswinging cross which landed on Ralph Kawondera’s head but the effort was parried on to the path of Amidu for a simple tap in.
Things almost got better for the home side on 40th minute when the hard-running Gerald Bero found Amidu inside the box, but his scuffed shot was pushed out by an alert Magalane.
There was a price to pay for the miss as FC Platinum found a deserved equaliser seven minutes later.
A lovely Brian Banda through pass picked Mutudza whose crisp left-footed shot hit the roof of the net to silence the home crowd going into the break.
A defensive mix-up early in the second half almost gifted Manica Diamonds a second goal but Bero couldn't keep his attempted chip over Magalane under the bar, much to the relief of the goalkeeper whose clearance had been intercepted.
An intricate passing move on the hour mark ended with Kawondera heading wastefully over the bar from a yard out, unable to do justice to a marvelous cross from Talent Chamboko.
But it was FC Platinum who became increasingly threatening, and after Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya headed over a cornerkick on the 75th minute, Mapeza's men eventually turned the game on its head two minutes later.
A cross from defender Nomore Chinyerere was expertly guided home by the head of Mutudza for his second goal of the afternoon.
Kawondera, full of energy against his former side, thought he had levelled matters on the 78th minute but his celebrations were cut short by the offside flag.
This proved to be the last real action of this hugely entertaining match.
Teams
Manica Diamonds: T Baye, L Masibera, T Chisi, K Gwao, F Banda, T Chamboko (B Chikwenya, 82'), L Chakoroma, B Amidu (M Tapera, 58', R Kawondera (T Macheke, 82'), G Bero (A Rupande, 58'), F Binzi
Fc Platinum: W Magalane, L Mhlanga, G Mbweti, G Bello, N Chinyerere, J Mutudza, R Pavari, B Banda, T Ngwenya, J Selemani (P Mutimbanyoka, 68'), P Chikwende
