BLACK RHINOS.................(0)0
NGEZI PLATINUM.............(0)3
CASTLE Lager Premier Soccer League title favourites Ngezi Platinum stormed into the Chibuku Super Cup final after beating Black Rhinos 3-0 in a pulsating semi-final tie played at Bata stadium yesterday.
Second-half goals from Malvin Gaki, Malvin Kwinjo and Cloud Mapako were all Ngezi Platinum needed to brush relegation-haunted Black Rhinos aside as they marched into the Chibuku Super Cup final.
And for them, winning an elite league and Cup double is now realistic as they are in pole position on the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League standings.
As such, Ngezi Platinum coach Takesure Chiragwi was pleased, as they now wait to know their next opponent between Caps United and Dynamos who lock horns this afternoon at the National Sports stadium.
"I'm ready for any team at this point. My team has done well up to this point. So there is no team that I fear. I have been there as a player and now as a coach," he said.
"We did well to keep a clean sheet in the first half because they were all over us. We got the chances and scored. Let's hope, we will remain like this until the season ends.
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"For now, this one is done and we focus on our next league match. I'm overally happy with how we performed. Being in the final gives me pleasure as a coach," Chiragwi said.
Black Rhinos coach Saul Chaminuka conceded defeat, saying his energies were now focused on retaining their PSL status.
"This was a great game. We needed to win but we didn't click when it mattered most. We failed to score in easy positions and the mistakes we made gave Ngezi easy chances to score and they did," he said.
"We now shift focus to the relegation fight. It's going to be tough but I think we will rise and pick the all important points. I feel we still have the chance to get the wins and survive."
Black Rhinos had the upper hand from the start of the encounter with Garikai Dematsika forcing a reflex save from Marion Chang in the opening minute.
Ngezi Platinum almost beat Black Rhinos on the counter after the first minute scare, but Tinotenda Murasiramwa missed the target by inches, with goalie Lenon Gonese rooted to one spot.
The army side remained on the front foot and this time, Lot Chiwunga forced Chang to make another reaction save from close range, after outpacing the lanky defender Kudzai Chigwida on the 19th minute.
Ten minutes later, Polite Moyo almost turned the ball into his own net after miscuing a curling cross that was whipped in by Kudakwashe Nyakudanga.
Ngezi Platinum got their best chance of the day when Marvellous Mukumba received a clearance from the Rhinos goal area, with space to shoot, the midfielder saw his lofted effort tipped over the bar by Lenon Gonese.
They went to the half-time break deadlocked, but the Mhondoro-Ngezi based side turned on their screws in the second half.
They broke the deadlock on the 50th minute through Malvin Gaki, with a low shot from range.
Second half substitute, Malvin Kwinjo doubled the scores, with a powerful left footer from range on the 63rd minutes, to beat diving goalie, Gonese.
Cloud Mapoka made it three for the platinum miners, as he freely slotted the ball home, after benefiting from poor communication between the Black Rhinos defenders.
TEAMS
BLACK RHINOS: L Gonese, C Nyakope, T Muchisa, D Mutimuzunze, D Mbewe, G Dematsika (A Gahadzikwa 77'), K Nyakudanga, V Katsande (M Mahodobi 66'), L Chiwunga, E Katema (S Chikwerengwe 58')
NGEZI PLATINUM: M Chang, K Chigwida, P Moyo, M Gaki (M Kwinjo 60'), T Benhura, G Madhake, M Mukumba, F Madhanhanga, B Mtigo(L Kashitigu 60'), Q Amini (E Mweha 71'),T Murasiranwa (C Mapoka 46').
