FC Platinum . . . . . (3) 3 Flame Lily . . . . . . . 0
BY MUKUDZEI CHINGWERE
FC PLATINUM finally remembered how to win with a comfortable 3-0 drubbing of Flame Lily in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match played at Mandava yesterday.
First-half strikes from Thabani Kamusoko, Walter Musona and Donald Ngoma were enough to give the host their first set of three points. The Zvishavane-based side was desperate to collect maximum points after they had only picked up a solitary point from their first two matches.
They, however, dispelled any doubts about their prospects for this season with a performance full of swagger.
Coach Norman Mapeza maintained trust in the squad that played Young Africans of Tanzania over the weekend where they won 1-0.
Mapeza commended his charges after a brilliant display. “First half we played very good football,” he said. “We will continue working hard. The condition of the pitch was also bad we could not pass the ball around,”
On the other hand, losing coach Nesbert Saruchera condemned the condition of the pitch and the forced substitution of his first-choice goalkeeper Prosper Chigumba. “Those costly blunders cost us and the pitch was not suitable for good football. The substitution of Prosper also affected our game plan,” said Saruchera.
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Platinum totally dominated their opponents and they never looked troubled at any point during the match.
They created chances early and settled so soon into the match. The opener came after 19 minutes of action, Gift Phiri fouled Brian Muzondiwa outside the box and from the resultant free kick Kamusoko fired the hosts into the lead with a curling effort.
Seven minutes before the breather the miners showed that they meant business, the prison wardens failed to clear their lines after a cross from Wellington Kamudyariwa to Musona and the teenager clinically finished past Earnmore Hamandishe to make it 2-0.
A few minutes before the breather Ngoma should have made it three for the hosts, but he hauled his effort over with the keeper badly positioned.
Moments later the forceful forward made amends when he fired home the third goal of the match after a commendable solo run. After the breather the hosts continued their dominance in search of more goals.
Moments after resumption Hamandishe had to summon his best skills to make three saves in quick succession against Ngoma, Allen Gahadzikwa and Musona.
Two minutes before full-time Hamandishe was in the thick of things once more when he halted a goal-bound Emmanuel Mandiranga strike.
Teams FC Platinum P Mhari, G Bello, R Mudhuviwa, A Katebe, W Kamudyariwa (S Shoko 66), T Kamusoko, A Gahadzikwa, R Sibanda, W Musona, D Ngoma (T Rukanda 79), B Muzondiwa (E Mandiranga 85) Flame Lilly P Chigumba (E Hamandishe 31), E Kopeni, T Nyakuba, B Chandisaita, R Kawondera, P Chidawaya, G Phiri, V Mukodo (P Chinyama 46), E Madhanhaga, M Muponda, M Demera.
