BY TERRY MADYAUTA
FC PLATINUM…………….(0) 1
BLACK RHINOS…………..(0) 1
FC Platinum’s steely defence was finally breached after 10 matches when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Black Rhinos at Mandava Stadium yesterday.
Congolese forward Eli Ilunga returned to Zvishavane for the first time since being offloaded last year and he ended his former paymasters’ spotless record with a strike early in the second half.
Panashe Mutimbanyoka scored the equalizer for FC Platinum to salvage a point for the hosts, who were without head coach Norman Mapeza due to a family bereavement.
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Stand-in coach Daniel Vheremu was satisfied with the result.
“It is always tough playing against Blacks Rhinos but I am satisfied with the result. The boys gave their all despite that some have been struggling to breathe because of flu,” Vheremu said.
“If truth be told, this was probably our toughest match so far and I am happy that we managed to respond after conceding and also that our changes worked well as we were trailing.”
From the onset, it was a balanced affair, with Black Rhinos refusing to be cowed into submission by the defending champions.
In fact, the army-side bossed proceedings, restricting FC Platinum’s movement in the midfield.
Without the suspended Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya and Donald , who is injured, FC Platinum lacked creativity and their usual robust forward movement.
Rhinos deservedly got the first chance of the game after 10 minutes, with FC Platinum lucky not to concede as Brian Banda cleared a goal-bound header from Ashward Phiri.
Black Rhinos controlled proceedings until the half-hour mark when Walter Musona came near with a low shot from inside the box but goalie Blessing Mwandimutsira palmed out for a corner.
Moments later Juan Mutudza forced an acrobatic save from Mwandimutsira with a rising shot following a quick onslaught that involved Gift Mbweti and Musona on the right flank.
Banda had his chance on the stroke of halftime, but again Mwandimutsira was equal to the task as he safely collected the low shot.
The platinum miners picked up from where they left, piling pressure on Rhinos who themselves remained resolute in defence.
And the turning point of the match came in the 52nd minute when Ilunga broke the deadlock, tapping the ball home from a cross delivered by Prince Milanzi.
In response, Vheremu introduced Blessing Moyo and Hagiazo Magaya for Innocent Mucheneka and Banda in an attempt to stabilise his midfielders where they were being outsmarted by Black Rhinos.
He further tweaked the team, pulling out Mutudza for defender Evidence Tendayi, with Mbweti moving forward to support the forward line.
Vheremu’s audacious switch paid off in the 74th minute as Musona and Mbweti combined well on the right flank before the former whipped in a curling cross that was chested home by Mutimbanyoka, with Mwandimutsira off guard.
Black Rhinos coach Stanford Mtizwa felt Mutimbanyoka scored using his hand.
“From where I was standing, I thought he scored with a hand. I don’t know how the referee saw it.
“Overall, this was a good game of football, we could have collected all points but it wasn’t meant to be,” he said.
“A point against FC Platinum means a lot for me and the team, but we move on and hope to keep picking up points.”
TEAMS
FC PLATINUM: W Magalane, G Mbweti, G Bello, L Mhlanga, N Chinyerere, B Banda (H Magaya 61′), R Pavari, I Mucheneka (B Moyo 60′), J Mutudza(E Tendai 70′), W Musona, P Mutimbanyoka.
BLACK RHINOS: B Mwandimutsira, F Banda, S Mudzengere, G Madhake, C Kwaramba, P Mlanzi, B Christopher, D Mutudza (A Gahadzikwa 76′), E Ilunga, E Feremba( T Nyamwandwe 77′) A Phiri