CHICKEN INN . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 1
NGEZI PLATINUM . . . . . . . (0) 2
CRANBORNE BULLETS . . . (3) 3
WHAWHA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 1
NGEZI Platinum stifled Chicken Inn's title hopes by securing a hard-fought win in a tightly-contested Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match played at Luveve Stadium yesterday.
Substitute Delic Murimba scored the winner for Ngezi Platinum in the 82nd minute as the visitors came from behind to claim the coveted maximum points.
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The Gamecocks had opened the scoring in the 32nd minute in the first half which was dominated by the visitors through a Malvin Whata header from a Xolani Ndlovu cross.
That goal was cancelled by Tinotenda Musariramwa five minutes after the break, as he directed the ball into the roof of the nets after he was set up by Carlos Mavhurume inside the penalty box.
Ngezi Platinum interim head coach Takesure Chiragwi was elated after the win.
"I appreciate the effort from the players. It was a superb performance coming back from behind from a good team like Chicken Inn," Chiragwi said.
Chicken Inn gaffer Joey Antipas bemoaned lapses in concentration by his defenders.
"We let it slip. I blame it entirely on the defence. We have to work hard on our defence to come out with a good result. We went to sleep in the second half. It's disappointing after leading in the first half,” Antipas said.
At Vengere Stadium, Cranborne Bullets powered to a comfortable victory over struggling bottom side Whawha to boost their chances of surviving relegation.
Munesu Kaseke was the destroyer in chief after a first half brace. The dreadlocked striker finished off a cross from Jarrison Selemani nine minutes into the match before returning again on 25 minutes, this time capitalising on a defensive mix-up to beat the goalkeeper Allan Musaya.
Brian Muzondiwa added the third on 37 minutes to complete a dominant first half display by the hosts. Whawha, however, replied through Ray Horonga in the second half with a speculative long range effort on 58 minutes but Cranborne held on for a crucial victory which takes them seven points clear of the relegation zone.