FC Platinum humble Tripple B

Sport
Tripple B ...................(1) 1 FC Platinum .............(1) 3

Tripple B ……………….(1) 1 FC Platinum ………….(1) 3

MUKUDZEI CHINGWERE SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

FC PLATINUM humbled Tripple B at Dulibadzimu Stadium, Beitbridge, yesterday in a perfect response to their three defeats in a row.

Tripple B raced into an early lead through a Givemore Fireyi goal before goals from Elvis Moyo, Obrey Chirwa and Winston Mhango silenced the hosts, fighting against relegation.

After the match, the losing coach Peter Manoti blamed the defeat to injuries in his camp.

“Most of our players were carrying knocks coming into this match, which made it difficult for them to last 90 minutes . “We made three forced substitutions and to make it worse all of them were defenders. That is why we conceded those two late goals in quick succession,” Manoti said.

Platinum boss Lloyd Mutasa was a happy man.

“This ground is now my favourite hunting ground. In 2002 when I was coaching Sporting Lions we won 3-0 against Border Strikers in a play-off match. The result meant we survived relegation.

“Today’s result is also a good morale booster going into our next match against Dynamos,” he said.

The result leaves Tripple B in the murky waters of relegation with a meagre 19 points from 23 matches, while the visitors closed the gap between them and log leaders Dynamos to just three points.

Tripple B started the match showing a lot of attacking intent and was rewarded as early as the fifth minute when Webster Chingodza’s corner kick fell into the path of an unmarked Fireyi who responded with a ferocious half-volley which gave Francis Tizayi in goal for Platinum no chance.

Eleven minutes later Donald Ngoma deftly pushed the ball into the path of Moyo who responded with a half-volley for the visitors’ first goal.

When it all seemed to be headed towards a share of the spoils, Ngoma set Chirwa to coolly slot the ball past Gilbert Chigwandaza in goal for Tripple B in the 90th minute.

Mhango added gloss to the scoreline when he got to the end of another cross from Ngoma in the 94th minute.

At Gibbo Stadium, Hwange forced a 2-2 draw against Triangle as they continued their fight against relegation.