BLACK Rhinos put up a near flawless display to dispatch FC Platinum 2-0 in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match played at Rimuka Stadium in Kadoma yesterday. REPORT BY SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
Black Rhinos. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 2 FC Platinum. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
Lot Chiunga opened the scoring in the fifth minute before Thabani Kamusoko beat his own keeper in the 67th minute to hand the soldiers maximum points and let them earn sweet revenge after losing 1-0 at Mandava Stadium in the reverse fixture. The win ensured Rhinos moved into 14th place, but are still in the relegation zone with 16 points from 16 matches while Platinum remained in sixth place with 26 points — five off new leaders Harare City. Arthur Tutani, Rhinos head coach, said the result was a positive step in their quest to evade the chop.
“It is a step in the right direction. We need to build on this result to have a chance of survival,” he said after the match.
Platinum coach Lloyd Mutasa said: “My players did not play according to our initial plans. Maybe it was because of the bumpy pitch and they failed to play a passing game. There are still a lot of games to play so we are not yet out of the title race.”
Cosafa Castle Cup-bound Chiunga hit a stunning half volley from veteran Gilbert Mushangazhike’s flick to beat Francis Tizayi.
Mushangazhike was playing his first game in the local league after almost a decade after being registered by the soldiers.Nelson Maziwisa almost struck immediately for the visitors when his close-range shot was palmed into safely by Hebert Rusawo, in goal for Rhinos.
Rhinos could have won the match with a bigger margin, but missed a glut of chances until Kamusoko headed past his own keeper from a Chiunga cross.
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Results at a glance
Yesterday: Highlanders 0-0 Caps United, Buffaloes 5-1 Tripple B, Black Rhinos 2-0 FC Platinum, Motor Action 0-2 Monomotapa Saturday: How Mine 1-0 Dynamos, Harare City 2-1 Hwange, Black Mambas 0-1 Triangle Friday: Chicken Inn 1-1 Shabanie Mine