Ngezi Platinum Stars . . . . . 0
Scottland . . . . . . . . ....... (0) 2
The Scottland juggernaut is showing no signs of slowing down after the log leaders stretched their winning streak to six matches with a clinical victory over title rivals Ngezi Platinum Stars at Baobab Stadium yesterday.
The result not only shattered the Mhondoro side's formidable unbeaten home record, but also handed them a psychologically damaging blow in the race for the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title.
The league leaders were made to work hard for the points against a well-structured Ngezi side, who benefited immensely from a brilliant, industrious performance by ageless midfielder Farai Madhanhanga.
Yet, the defending champions eventually showed their quality and pedigree in a ruthless second-half display.
The breakthrough came in the 50th minute when Walter Musona’s cushioned header was thumped home by Moses Shidolo, before the mercurial Khama Billiat secured the three points, tapping home a rebound six minutes from time.
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With this victory, Scottland have opened a commanding seven-point lead at the summit with 40 points.
While fourth-placed Hardrock can close the gap to five points if they beat ZPC Kariba at home today, the psychological significance of this result cannot be overstated.
"It was not an easy game," Scottland coach Norman Mapeza admitted post-match.
"In the first half, we had some opportunities. Maybe we could have scored one or two goals.
“I told the guys at halftime to keep believing in themselves. In the first few minutes of the second half, we got our first goal.
“And we had something to defend. Ngezi kept pushing. If they had a bit of luck, maybe they could have scored one or two goals.
“But at the end of the day, it was down to the boys and they scored another one.
“They worked so hard. And now, we shift focus to our next game against Manica Diamonds next week on Friday."
For Ngezi Platinum Stars, who sit fifth on the log with 32 points after suffering only their third defeat of the campaign, it was a harsh reality check.
They had entered the contest looking to build momentum following a comfortable 2-0 win over FC Platinum last week.
"A very disappointing result... a bad day in the office for us," said a dejected Ngezi coach, Kumbirai Mutiwekuziva.
"With the way we played, I thought we deserved something better. The boys tried their best.
“They created the chances which they could have at least scored one or two goals. But it's the game of football.
“I would want to give credit to Scottland for utilising the chances that came their way in the second half.
“I think experience sometimes makes the difference. This is what we have seen today."
The home side had started brightly, stringing passes between themselves with a confident composure that briefly forced the visitors to chase shadows.
Gradually, however, the log leaders eased themselves back into the contest, though they never truly dictated the tempo in the manner expected of champions.
Even so, it was Scottland who carved out the better opportunities before the interval.
The Musona brothers proved to be a constant menace.
Early on, Walter flashed a shot just wide after a clever layoff from Billiat.
In the 21st minute, Ngezi goalkeeper Darlington Musariranwa had to come off his line with immense bravery to block Knowledge Musona’s point-blank effort.
Walter then missed a sitter in the 34th minute, dragging his shot wide from a mere two meters out after being set up by his brother, before Musariranwa again intervened to deny Panashe Mutimbanyoka.
At the other end, Ngezi’s chances were sporadic but dangerous as McDonald Eddisone glanced a header just wide from a glorious Qadr Amini cross.
The second half began with the hosts squandering a sequence of golden opportunities.
Marvelous Mukamba guided a header over the bar from a corner, before halftime substitute Orlando Zvavarevi almost made an immediate impact.
Finding himself in space in the 49th minute, Zvavarevi hesitated, allowing a recovering defender to clear the danger.
That glaring miss was instantly punished.
A minute later, a Mutimbanyoka cross was cushioned expertly into the path of Shidolo by Walter, and the Namibian lashed a low drive into the bottom right corner.
Ngezi poured forward in search of an equaliser. Malvin Gaki fired just wide, and the forward should have done considerably better in the 70th minute when he sent an acrobatic effort over the bar from another precise Amini cross.
To compound his misery, Gaki clashed with Tanaka Munemo upon landing and sustained a serious injury, necessitating his immediate evacuation from the stadium via an ambulance.
The hosts continued to push, with substitute Tinotenda Musariranwa heading over with ten minutes remaining.
But against the run of play, a defensive calamity gifted Scottland their cushion.
An errant backpass went straight to Knowledge, whose subsequent cross was inadvertently headed onto the post by Polite Moyo in a desperate attempt to clear.
The rebound fell kindly to Billiat, who made no mistake from a yard out to claim his eighth goal of the season.
Deep into stoppage time, substitute Kingsley Mureremba almost put the icing on the cake, but his fierce shot rattled the foot of the post.
In the end, it mattered little as Scottland’s march towards the title continues with an ominous, unwavering stride.
Teams
Ngezi Platinum Stars: D Musariranwa (M Chang, 90'), G Chirwa, L Kashitigu, P Moyo, Q Amini (T Mavhudzi, 78'), F Madhanhanga, B Katumba, M Mukumba, T Munemo, M Gaki (T Musariranwa, 70'), M Eddisone (O Zvavarevi, 46').
Scottland: N Chadya, I Mohammed, K Moyo, P Mudhuwa, K Twala, W Musona (M Chiweta, 93'), M Shidolo (A Moffat, 69'), M Msebe, P Mutimbanyoka (E Ziocha, 93'), K Billiat (T Dzvukamanja, 85'), K Musona (K Mureremba, 85').
