Ngezi Platinum Stars . . . . (0)0
Simba Bhora . . . . . . . . (0)0
Castle Lager Premier Soccer League pacesetters Simba Bhora managed to get a point from title contenders and defending champions Ngezi Platinum Stars in a drab encounter at Baobab Stadium yesterday.
It is a result that Simba Bhora coach Tonderai Ndiraya would have wanted as the team enjoys a seven point lead in the championship race with just six matches remaining and have become hot favourites to land a historic maiden title.
The Shamva-based side is now on 57 points while second placed FC Platinum moved to 50 points while Ngezi Platinum Stars are a distant third with 43 points, although they have two matches in hand.
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Despite dropping the two points, Ndiraya believes the point his team gained against a direct title rival could prove priceless in the final analysis.
"It was a tightly contested match. We came here for a point, and that is what we got," Ndiraya said after the match.
"Remember we were playing the champions, a team with a lot of quality, a team which was recently playing in the Champions League. So in terms of experience and quality, we knew it was going to be a difficult game. For us, this point is a very important point because it will help us keep a good gap between us and the rest of the teams. We are hopeful that when we get back home, we will do our normal business and we will collect maximum points."
Ngezi Platinum Stars coach Takesure Chiragwi felt his side were unlucky not to collect maximum points, but also credited the efforts of his opponent which he said "showed a character of champions."
"I want to thank God and appreciate the players for a good performance. We had a decent game and considering the changes that we made to the line-up. Having a performance like this under the circumstances, I'm more than happy. We were very solid at the back and we kept possession well and created chances. Credit also goes to their goalkeeper Simba Chinani, who had a good game because we tried to score several times, but he saved his club,”
Both teams made changes to their line-ups from their midweek games, with Ndiraya making four including a forced one in the goalkeeping department, which saw Chinani coming in for the suspended Talbert Shumba, while Chiragwi had five changes into his lineup.
As expected, it was full throttle and end-to-end in the opening minutes, with Walter Musona and Tymon Machope enjoying the best of the early chances.
The hosts had dominated possession early on and they looked to have created the opening goal following a melee inside the box on the quarter hour mark, but Simba Bhora young defender Isheanesu Mauchi headed clear off the line.
The visitors gradually settled into the match and were unlucky not to take the lead in the 22nd minute when defender Farai Madhanaga was alert enough to clear the ball off the line.
Simba looked to retreat into their shells at the start of the second half, but still created the first real chance of the stanza which was wasted by Vasili Kawe.
Substitute Tapiwa Mandinyenya forced another good save from Chinani on 66th minute after a clever Obriel Chirinda dummy had opened wide the Simba Bhora defence to leave the substitute clear on goal.
Both sides had chances to win it during a frenetic finale, but a draw was probably a fair result.
Referee Jimmy Makwanda was impressive and managed to handle the tension in the blockbuster match.
Makwanda has been on top of the game this season and is a strong contender for the referee of the year award.
Teams
Ngezi Platinum Stars: N Chadya, P Moyo, G Madhake, Q Amini, F Madhanaga, M Mukumba, R Hachiro, N Tigere (T Meke, 85'), A Ngwena (T Mandinyenya, 58'), T Musariranwa (C Mapoka, 85'), O Chirinda.
Simba Bhora: S Chinani, B Moyo, W Tafa, I Mauchi, R Kangadzi, T Chipunza, J Makunike, V Kawe (T Balakasi, 75'), M Msebe, W Musona (I Nyanhi, 93'), T Machope (P Chikwende, 85')