Sports / Soccer
Hwange sink FC Platinum
14 Jul 2016 at 02:14hrs | Views
Hwange 2-1 FC Platinum
TWO brilliant first half goals by young and enterprising Hwange striker Gift Mbweti brought back smiles on Chipangano fans' faces as they checked log leaders FC Platinum in a pulsating Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at the Colliery Stadium yesterday.
The coal miners produced a flat performance at the same venue to lose 0-1 to league debutants Bulawayo City last Sunday, but Mbweti was in dazzling form yesterday to ensure that his side shocked their more fancied visitors.
His opening goal on the quarter hour mark should rank as one of the best ever witnessed at the Colliery Stadium.
A swift counter-attack saw a long clearance falling onto Mbweti's path in the centre circle. The youngster took a few strides before cleverly chipping the ball over an outdrawn Petros Mhari in goals for FC Platinum from about 30 metres to send the home fans into ecstasy.
The platinum miners could have drawn level three minutes later when a two-man move involving Walter Musona and hard running Hillary Bakacheza broke through, but right-back Phakamani Dube's timely intervention thwarted Bakacheza just as he was about to stab the ball home from close range.
With the visitors sniffing around for an equaliser, Mbweti again put his name onto the score sheet in the 20th minute almost in similar fashion when he found himself in possession at the edge of the box and cleverly lobbed the ball over Mhari sparking jubilant scenes on the terraces.
FC Platinum then virtually camped inside the Hwange half with former Chipangano midfield enforcer Rodwell Chinyengetere directing operations. Chinyengetere released Musona, who blazed his effort inches over the bar from point blank range.
A double substitution by the visitors' coach Norman Mapeza in the 55th minute saw speedsters Marshall Mudehwe and Ishmael Wadi coming on for Musona and Bakacheza to increase firepower upfront, but the home team defended resolutely.
However, right-back Phakamani Dube threw the visitors a lifeline when he gave away a penalty in the 82th minute following a reckless tackle on Simon Shoko, who was not even a threat inside the box.
Chinyengetere stepped up to send Hwange goalkeeper Future Sibanda the wrong way. A moment of madness followed immediately after the penalty conversion when defender David Boriwondo kicked the ball out of play, leaving referee Philani Ncube with no option but to send him off for a second bookable offence. He had earlier been booked for rough play on the stroke of halftime.
The coalminers then endured a nervy end to the game as the visitors launched raid after raid, but they held on to the result despite being a man down.
Hwange coach Mabelo Njekwa was a relieved man after the final whistle.
"I am pleased that we rose to the occasion, especially after the defeat at home to Bulawayo City. Such are the dynamics of football, but it will be unfair not to commend FC Platinum for giving us a good game," Njekwa said.
Mapeza was furious that his charges conceded two goals.
"The moment we let in those two goals, it was game over for us. If you know football, then you know that once you behave the way we did, it is done and dusted." said Mapeza.
Teams
Hwange: F Sibanda; P Dube; M Mungadze (C Banda 49th min); G Ndlovu; O Moyo; A Tshuma; C Muleya; I Mucheneka; G Mbweti; G Zulu; D Boriwondo
FC Platinum: P Mhari; I Nekati; G Bello; S Shoko; E Moyo; G Takwara; R Chinyengetere; T Dzumbunu (M Mudehwe 55th min); W Musona (M Mudehwe 69th min); T Rukanda; H Bakacheza (I Wadi 55th min)
TWO brilliant first half goals by young and enterprising Hwange striker Gift Mbweti brought back smiles on Chipangano fans' faces as they checked log leaders FC Platinum in a pulsating Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at the Colliery Stadium yesterday.
The coal miners produced a flat performance at the same venue to lose 0-1 to league debutants Bulawayo City last Sunday, but Mbweti was in dazzling form yesterday to ensure that his side shocked their more fancied visitors.
His opening goal on the quarter hour mark should rank as one of the best ever witnessed at the Colliery Stadium.
A swift counter-attack saw a long clearance falling onto Mbweti's path in the centre circle. The youngster took a few strides before cleverly chipping the ball over an outdrawn Petros Mhari in goals for FC Platinum from about 30 metres to send the home fans into ecstasy.
The platinum miners could have drawn level three minutes later when a two-man move involving Walter Musona and hard running Hillary Bakacheza broke through, but right-back Phakamani Dube's timely intervention thwarted Bakacheza just as he was about to stab the ball home from close range.
With the visitors sniffing around for an equaliser, Mbweti again put his name onto the score sheet in the 20th minute almost in similar fashion when he found himself in possession at the edge of the box and cleverly lobbed the ball over Mhari sparking jubilant scenes on the terraces.
FC Platinum then virtually camped inside the Hwange half with former Chipangano midfield enforcer Rodwell Chinyengetere directing operations. Chinyengetere released Musona, who blazed his effort inches over the bar from point blank range.
A double substitution by the visitors' coach Norman Mapeza in the 55th minute saw speedsters Marshall Mudehwe and Ishmael Wadi coming on for Musona and Bakacheza to increase firepower upfront, but the home team defended resolutely.
However, right-back Phakamani Dube threw the visitors a lifeline when he gave away a penalty in the 82th minute following a reckless tackle on Simon Shoko, who was not even a threat inside the box.
Chinyengetere stepped up to send Hwange goalkeeper Future Sibanda the wrong way. A moment of madness followed immediately after the penalty conversion when defender David Boriwondo kicked the ball out of play, leaving referee Philani Ncube with no option but to send him off for a second bookable offence. He had earlier been booked for rough play on the stroke of halftime.
The coalminers then endured a nervy end to the game as the visitors launched raid after raid, but they held on to the result despite being a man down.
Hwange coach Mabelo Njekwa was a relieved man after the final whistle.
"I am pleased that we rose to the occasion, especially after the defeat at home to Bulawayo City. Such are the dynamics of football, but it will be unfair not to commend FC Platinum for giving us a good game," Njekwa said.
Mapeza was furious that his charges conceded two goals.
"The moment we let in those two goals, it was game over for us. If you know football, then you know that once you behave the way we did, it is done and dusted." said Mapeza.
Teams
Hwange: F Sibanda; P Dube; M Mungadze (C Banda 49th min); G Ndlovu; O Moyo; A Tshuma; C Muleya; I Mucheneka; G Mbweti; G Zulu; D Boriwondo
FC Platinum: P Mhari; I Nekati; G Bello; S Shoko; E Moyo; G Takwara; R Chinyengetere; T Dzumbunu (M Mudehwe 55th min); W Musona (M Mudehwe 69th min); T Rukanda; H Bakacheza (I Wadi 55th min)
Source - the herald
