TEN-MAN FC Platinum held Highlanders to a 2-2 draw in an entertaining Castle Lager Premier Soccer league match at Mandava yesterday.
BY MUKUDZEI CHINGWERE FC Platinum . . . (1) (2) Highlanders . . . (1) (2)
TEN-MAN FC Platinum held Highlanders to a 2-2 draw in an entertaining Castle Lager Premier Soccer league match at Mandava yesterday.
Highlanders’ goals from Knox Mutizwa and Obadia Tarumbwa were cancelled by Thabani Kamusoko and Donald Ngoma for a share of spoils.
FC Platinum came into the match on an impressive run of form but ended the match one man short after Kelvin Moyo was red-carded.
However, after the match, violence once again reared its ugly head after sets of both clubs’ fans clashed in running battles, a situation which initially seemed easy for the police to calm, but quickly went out of hand like a veld fire.
Both coaches were happy with their teams’ performances though they both fancied their chances of victory.
“The guys showed character after one of our players was sent off. I am happy with the point and the performance of the team generally. We created a lot of chances, especially in the first half and we failed to utilise them,” said Norman Mapeza, the FC Platinum head coach.
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“We created most of the chances but we failed to hold on for victory but I am happy that we are now playing better football. I would have loved a win but I am happy with the character shown by the players at the end of the day,” said Highlanders coach Bongani Mafu.
The hosts settled early into the game and after seven minutes of action Kamusoko controlled the ball outside the box before firing home a thunderous shot into the roof of the net to send Mandava into a delirium.
Moments later the platinum miners threatened to tear apart their visitors, but Brian Muzondiwa and Walter Musona wasted two glorious chances in quick succession.
On the opposite end of the field Tshilamoya were refusing to bow to submission with Mutizwa being denied by the woodwork after he had perfectly timed his half volley. Wellington Kamudyariwa released Musona twice with inch perfect crosses but the latter pushed his efforts wide, first with a low shot and then a header.
Bosso levelled the scores four minutes before the breather when Tarumbwa fired home a low shot after an intelligent tap from Mutizwa.
Moments after the breather Musona set through Ngoma who blasted his effort wide.
In the 71st minute, referee Brighton Chimene awarded Highlanders a penalty after Kelvin Moyo fouled Mutizwa in the penalty box before he was given his marching orders.
Up stepped Mutizwa to send Petros Mhari in goals for Platinum the wrong way.
Ngoma snatched a point for the miners when he capitalised from some sloppy defending and scored the leveler a minute before full-time.
