Chicken Inn skipper Danny Phiri (third from right) leads part of his teammates as they shake hands with FC Platinum players just before kick-off yesterday.
Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
Chicken Inn 1-1 FC Platinum
BULAWAYO football fans witnessed a thrilling top-of-the-table clash that ended in a share of the spoils and a red card for FC Platinum as Chicken Inn maintained their four-point lead at the top of the table after yesterday’s Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Luveve Stadium.
The two goals were both top drawer finishes. FC Platinum’s Tatenda Dzumbunu scored first for the visitors after brilliant team work and the equaliser was due to sheer individual brilliance by veteran Clemence Matawu.
Coaches Joe Antipas for Chicken Inn and Norman Mapeza for the visitors both expressed satisfaction with the point gained, although Antipas said he would have been happier with maximum points to give his side the spring needed for the title.
FC Platinum’s national team forward Brian Muzondiwa was given his marching orders by referee Philani Ncube for a second bookable offence in the 71st minute for simulation inside the box. He had been earlier cautioned for fouling Chicken Inn skipper Danny Phiri in the first stanza.
“It was a really tight affair and we can’t complain about the point gained,” said Chicken Inn’s Antipas.
“Three points could have given us the spring, but such is football. We’re content with the point. It’s still game on in terms of the championship.”
His FC Platinum counterpart Mapeza said it was a vital point and felt his boys could have buried Chicken Inn in the first half.
“It’s a vital point for us and I’m extremely happy. We could have buried them in the first half but we now have to go back and work hard. God is the only one who knows our destiny,” said Mapeza.
The match kicked off at a blistering pace befitting a top-of-the-table clash, with the hosts threatening first after getting a corner kick in the fifth minute forced by youngster Toto Banda off Kelvin Moyo.
Three minutes later, George Majika’s in-swinger into the path of Banda saw him intelligently dispatch a curler that rose above the defence, but not the FC Platinum goalkeeper Petros Mhari.
The resultant dispatch by Mhari fell to dribbling wizard Marshal Mudehwe, who turned his marker inside out in the box, but as has become the the norm with the youngster, his final execution was a big letdown.
Just before the quarter hour mark, Phiri was hacked down by Winston Mhango as he prepared to go for the kill after working his way past a cluster of defenders. Mhango was yellow carded for his troubles, but Phiri made a mess of the set piece by skying his effort well over the bar.
Dzumbunu then propelled the Midlanders into the lead, coming to the end of a swift breathtaking move that started from the middle of the park when Gerald Takwara laid the ball for Zambian import Obrey Chirwa, who quickly got inside the box, subtracting his opponents before laying the ball across the face of goal.
Chicken Inn goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze tried to narrow the angle, but was a shade too slow, resulting in Dzumbunu ghosting in from the right to slot the ball into the net.
The hosts never panicked and tried to respond six minutes later, but Banda’s grounder missed the upright post by inches.
The home team laid siege on the FC Platinum goal in the last five minutes of the first half, but Edmore Chirambadare twice failed to breach Mhari.
The equaliser would come in the 48th minute through the boot of 2006 Soccer Star of the Year Matawu. Chicken Inn right-back Ian Nekati failed to decisively clear the ball while under pressure from Chirambadare and his clearance fell just outside the box in front of his teammate, who was not expecting the ball.
The predatory Matawu seized the moment by pouncing on the ball and charged forward for about two metres before unleashing a half volley on the run in a flash, beating a bemused Mhari.
There was no major goalmouth action until the 71st minute when Muzondiwa was sent for an early shower.
Muzondiwa received a through ball, which was, however, a bit too fast allowing Chipezeze to dash off his line and collect it before Muzondiwa could poke it past him. Muzondiwa’s bid to deceive referee Ncube and his assistant Abraham Manda by diving only earned him a second yellow card, leaving his team to finish with 10 men.
Teams
Chicken Inn: E Chipezeze, L Mhlanga, B Mbiriri, P Bernard, T Banda, C Matawu, M Jackson, D Phiri, E Chirambadare, M Katsvairo (I Lawe 76th min), Majika (L Nkomo 90th min)
Unused Subs: B Juru, N Nyaunzi, D Temwanjira, B Ncube
FC Platinum: P Mhari, I Nekati, G Bello, K Moyo, E Moyo, W Mhango, G Takwara, T Dzumbunu (S Sibanda 69th min), O Chirwa, B Muzondiwa, M Mudehwe
Unused Subs: F Tizayi, W Kamudyira, R Sibanda, A Gahadzikwa, E Mandiranga, S Shoko.