Chicken Inn roasted for the first time this season

FC Platinum 2 - 1 Chicken Inn
BULAWAYO-based side Chicken Inn were yesterday handed their first defeat of the season by FC Platinum when some poor defending early in the match resulted in a goal that totally disturbed their game plan. It was a tense Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match played at Mandava Stadium.

Tennant Chilumba's flamboyant Zvishavane side has now made it four out of four wins in a row to open a three point lead at the top of the log standings over second-placed Highlanders who have a game in hand.

Experienced defender, Zephania Ngodzo's intended back header in the third minute to his advancing goalkeeper Liberty Chirava never reached its intended target and an alert Charles Sibanda pounced, rounding off Chirava before scoring into an empty net.

The miners' joy was however short-lived as Mitchell Katsvairo was red-carded 23 minutes later for a late tackle on Brian Juru.

Petros Mhari, in goals for the home team, was then called upon to come to the rescue of his side as Chicken Inn took advantage of their numerical advantage.

Tendai Ndoro, who was a menace on the right wing, won possession and powered a hard shot that Mhari managed to push for a corner. Sibanda, who could have walked home with a brace, saw Chirava pushing his effort for a corner in the 38th minute after the dreadlocked striker had found space in the visitors defence.

After the breather FC Platinum put the score beyond the reach of the Bulawayo side through their dead ball specialist Ali Sadiki.

Sibanda was brought down outside the box and FC Platinum won a free kick. Sadiki then curled in a beauty that Chirava never saw but only managed to retrieve from the back of the nets in the 56th minute.

Ndoro denied his side a comeback three minutes later when he dribbled past Daniel Veremu who had a good show but with only goalkeeper Mhari to beat he opted to direct his effort wide than to slot the ball home.

Veremu, the Moyo twins Elvis and Kelvin, Raphael Muduviwa and Thabani Kamusoko played their hearts out thwarting all the efforts by the GameCocks.

Mkhokheli Dube was unlucky not to register his name on the score sheet when his effort outside the box was saved by Mhari and the rebound found no taker in the 62nd minute.

The country's leading goalscorer Nelson Maziwisa who was kept under lock and key by no-nonsense Chicken Inn captain, Guide Goddard, could have found the target in the 65th minute but failed to control the ball in the box allowing Chirava to take it away from danger.

Chicken Inn breathed life into their game when coach Mandla Mpofu introduced menacing Kudakwashe Mahachi leaving many in the stadia wondering why the pint-sized youngman was on the bench after all. Mahachi showed how dangerous he is with his fancy footwork when he weaved his way past three home team defenders and powered a shot that Mhari did well to tip for a corner that they later failed to utilise.

The Mzilikazi boy was back asking questions again just before full time and this time Muduviwa had no option but to bring him down and the referee pointed to the spot.

Up stepped Ndoro to send goalkeeper Mhari the wrong way.

After the goal Chicken Inn kept on piling pressure but found Mhari in terrific form as he tipped an effort from Brian Mbiriri over the bar dampening any hopes that the visitors had.

Chilumba was ecstatic after the final whistle while his counterpart Mpofu blamed the early goal that put them off their mark.

Teams:

FC Platinum: P Mhari, D Veremu, E Moyo, K Moyo, R Muduviwa, T Kamusoko, W Hango, A Sadiki, M Katsvairo, C Sibanda (D Ngoma 91st), N Maziwisa.

Chicken Inn: L Chirava, M Jackson, G Goddard, Z Ngodzo, B Mbiriri, D Phiri, T Ndoro, C Nkomo (C Kamhapa 69th), B Juru (L Mpofu 83rd), T Chimenya, M Dube.