FC PLATINUM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2)2
CHICKEN INN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(1)2
FC Platinum and Chicken Inn settled for a share of the spoils following a pulsating four-goal thriller at Mandava Stadium yesterday.
Lawrence Mhlanga and Juan Mutudza scored for the four-time Castle Lager Premier Soccer League champions, while Lincoln Mangayira and Michael Charamba were on target for the visitors.
FC Platinum were dominant in the opening exchanges while Chicken Inn were slow out of the blocks.
The home side took the lead after 10 minutes, albeit under scrappy circumstances, when Mhlanga collided with goalkeeper Pride Zendera before tapping the ball home.
Brian Banda nearly doubled the advantage 15 minutes later but his rasping grounder from outside the box was parried away by a diving Zendera in goals for Chicken Inn.
The Gamecocks finally settled in, and Mangayira restored parity after 32 minutes, with a powerful header from a corner kick that was whipped in by Danny Phiri.
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Two minutes later, speed merchant Charamba got to the end of a defence splitting pass from Elsharma Farasi, and he made no mistake from close range to put Chicken Inn into the lead.
They held onto the lead going into the half-time break.
But FC Platinum did not surrender, as they returned from the break with more impetus. And Mutudza equalised in the 53rd minute, with a volley from outside the box.
FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza was happy with the point as his team maintained their unbeaten run.
“We gave away silly goals but I'm happy with the point.
“We came back from behind and these points will go a long way. In the second half we managed to get that early goal and it brought some urgency into the game.
“In the second half, they never gave us problems. Wallace (Magalane) did not save any shot. But at the end, we must celebrate this point,” he said.
Chicken Inn coach Joey Antipas felt his side could have scored more goals to win the game.
“I feel the first goal [we conceded] could have been a foul, but I'm not blaming anyone.
“We did well to come back, and we could have won it, but we did not convert a number of chances we got in the second half.
“It was a tight contest, and we are happy to get the point against FC Platinum and most importantly away from home.”
Teams
FC PLATINUM: Wallace Magalane, Mishecl Ngwenya, Mbongeni Ndlovu, Lawrence Mhlanga, Hagaizo Magaya. Brian Banda, Juan Mutudza, Davison Marowa, Oscar Bhebhe, Panashe Mutimbanyoka (Jarrison Selemani 85'), Wifred Muvirimi (Shepherd Mhlanga 46'.)
CHICKEN INN FC: Pride Zendera (GK), Itayi Mabunu, Lincoln Mangayira, Brighton Makopa (Innocent Mucheneka 67'), Danny Phiri, Joseph Tulani, Micheal Charamba (Malvin Hwata 77'), George Majika(Brian Muza 60'), Xolani Ndlovu, Elsharma Farasi(Brandon Rendo 66').
