How Mine hold FC Platinum

Sport
FC PLATINUM kept their hopes of finishing the Castle Lager Premier Soccer in the top four alive after collecting a point away against How Mine

How Mine . . . . . . . . . . (0) 1 FC Platinum . . . . . . . . (0) 1 FC PLATINUM kept their hopes of finishing the Castle Lager Premier Soccer in the top four alive after collecting a point away against How Mine at Luveve Stadium yesterday.

SUKOLUHLE MTHETHWA SPORTS REPORTER

Warren Dube broke the deadlock scoring for How Mine in the 60th minute while the visitors got their goal from a well taken penalty by Daniel Veremu in the 82nd minute.

FC Platinum are fourth with 49 points from 29 games while How Mine are on position seven with 42 points from the same number of games with a game to go before the season ends.

It was a dull encounter, especially in the first half as both teams failed to create any meaningful chances. How Mine coach Philani “Beefy” Ncube said: “I can draw a lot of positives because we played well. “We missed many chances. I do not know if it was a genuine penalty.

“I cannot complain about things beyond my control,” he said. FC Platinum coach Lloyd Mutasa complained on the match officiating. “The officiating left a lot to be desired. The How Mine players were going scot free when they challenged our players, but ours were being cautioned.

“Every team wants to win the league, but to us finishing in the top four will not be bad,” he said. Dube had his first attempt at goal five minutes into the game but his effort went wide.

He also missed another chance shooting straight at FC Platinum goalkeeper Francis Tizayi in the 29th minute. But Dube then put How Mine ahead on the hour mark when his speculative shot stunned Tizayi. Timothy January was involved in the goal as his superb build-up from the right flank saw him switching the ball to the left where he spotted Dube who in turn beat Tizayi.

Menard Mupera had his shot tipped for a corner-kick by Tizayi eight minutes later as How Mine were searching for their second goal.

FC Platinum had a chance to level the scores in the 71st minute but Donald Ngoma failed to connect Obrey Chirwa’s cross. The visitors ventured upfront in search of a goal and it paid dividend as How Mine defender Nelson Tachi hacked down Ngoma inside the box.

Referee Thabani Bhamala pointed to the spot with Veremu opting to take responsibility beating a diving How Mine goalminder Ephraim Mazarura.