FC PLATINUM . . . . . (1)2
CHICKEN INN . . . . . . . (0)
DEFENDING champions FC Platinum returned from the two-week break on a high note beating Chicken Inn 2-0 in an entertaining Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match played at Mandava Stadium yesterday.
The impressive pair of Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya and Walter Musona scored as the platinum miners maintained their winning momentum.
And FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza was left on cloud nine after the win, which he believes marks the beginning of a purple patch by his side.
"Its a massive win. They had their chances. The game could have gone either way. Credit goes to the boys. They did well to get this result. It's very important for us especially coming from the break," Mapeza said after the match.
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"Everyone is raring to go, we are going to keep working hard as a team. It's all about maintaining a positive attitude and mindset.
"There is still a long way to go. It's a marathon, we have to remain focused until the season ends. I hope we will achieve all our goals," Mapeza said.
FC Platinum started this one on a high note, with Brian Banda getting their first chance of the match but it was blocked before reaching Donovan Bernard.
Michael Charamba got Chicken Inn's first chance of the game after 17 minutes and his thundering effort beat goalie Wallace Magalane but he was ruled out for offside.
Gift Mbweti almost broke the deadlock with a short from range on the 25th minute mark, but it was tipped over the bar by Bernard.
FC Platinum's pressure paid dividends on the half hour mark when they broke the deadlock.
That was all they needed to maintain control of the match going into the halftime break.
And they returned from the break with more firepower as Panashe Mutimbanyoka forced a save from Bernard after unleashing a powerful shot.
Pure Platinum Play doubled their score on the 70th minute courtesy of Musona.
The 2022 Soccer Star of the Year darted the ball home, from a Ngwenya pin-point pass.
Chicken Inn tried hard to come back, with Xolani Ndlovu's well-struck shot parried away by goalie Wallace Magalane.
Chicken Inn coach Prince Matore conceded defeat, but was unhappy with the officiating.
He said: "We lost the plot in the first half because we conceded soft goals.
"What is important is to play fair. The decisions affected us.
"We could have got a better result had some of the decisions been favourable. From here we move on to the next match.
"But we go back home to re-strategise and hopefully, we shall start picking results in the next matches."
Teams
FC PLATINUM: W Magalane, G Mbweti, R Pavari, N Chinyerere, K Mangiza, I Mucheneka, J Mutudza, B Banda, P Mutimbanyoka, W Musona (J Selemani 84'), T Ngwenya ( P Chikwende 84')
CHICKEN INN: Bernard D, B Muza, X Ndlovu, M Bhebhe( A Chinda 60'), G Majika, S Mhlanga, C Dzingai, D Jaricha, M Hwata (C Augusto 48'), T Kutinyu