BY TERRY MADYAUTA
HERENTALS . . . . . . . . . . . (1)2
NGEZI PLATINUM . . . . . . (1)
NGEZI Platinum Stars coach Takesure Chiragwi has poured water on PSL title talk after watching his side miss an opportunity to go top of the log standings following their loss to Herentals at Mandava yesterday.
Tafadzwa Jimu and Tino Benza were on target for The Students, while Takunda Benhura scored the consolation goal for Madamburo.
Chiragwi cut a sombre figure, dejected after the loss which dented their title credentials.
"Our goal is not to chase Highlanders. We want to improve Ngezi Platinum to be a better team than last season," Chiragwi said:
"We are not chasing to be on top of the log but to improve week in week out. That's what is important. If they can employ any tactics to win, it's good for them (Herentals) to win, then congratulations to them."
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His counterpart, Kumbirai Mutiwekuziva was on cloud nine.
"It's our aim to beat those teams at the top. And we did just that again today. This is the best result that we wanted.
"They are an organised team in the league, two points behind Highlanders. Unfortunately for them, today we had other plans," Mutiwekuziva said.
This one was an evenly balanced affair in the early minutes of the enthralling clash. But it was Herentals who were impressive both on and off the ball, with the pair of Davison Marowa and Tafadzwa Jimu menacing the Ngezi Platinum defenders from the left flank.
Their pressure almost paid dividends on the seventh minute when Marowa picked Tafadzwa Jimu unmarked with a long range pass, but the later saw his effort palmed away buy Nelson Chadya.
The students maintained the pressure and Jimu broke the deadlock after 24 minutes when he turned home a delightful cross whipped into the box by Davison Marowa.
Bruno Mtigo gained Platinum a promising chance just outside the box when he was fouled by William Kapumha. Unfortunately their trusted free-kick taker, Qadr Amini wasted the oppurtunity.
Ngezi Platinum equalized through Takunda Benhura, on the 37th minute. That was after a quick build-up that saw Bruno Mtigo hitting the upright from close range before Benhura tucked the ball home on the rebound.
However, Ngezi Platinum were found wanting on several occasions and they were almost punished by Tafadzwa Jimu on the stroke of half-time.
Jimu hit the crossbar from close range after benefiting from Tino Benza who outpaced Polite Moyo before curling in a delightful cross.
Ngezi Platinum showed no change after the break, with midfield Marvellous Mukumba appearing to be their weak link.
The former Dynamos anchorman, Mukumba, then conceded a freekick outside the box and Tino Benza beat Nelson Chadya with a well-taken curling strike.
From then on, Herentals employed delaying tactics, particularly goalkeeper Nevermind Antonio and had to be cautioned by referee Lawrence Zimondi.
Ngezi Platinum almost salvaged a point on the 83rd minute, when second substitute Valentine Kadonzvo hit the upright with a long range effort, with goalie Antonio rooted on one spot.
They piled pressure in the final minutes of the game and Delic Murimba missed a sitter, following a goal mouth melee.
TEAMS:
HERENTALS: N Antonio, C Nyatondo, T Jimu( B Majarira 68'), G Chinobva, S Murove( G Mukambi 85'), D Marowa(A Maliselo 90'), T Benza(B Majarira 85'), P Chota, W Kapumha, P Chama( J Chitavira 90'), B Phiri
NGEZI PLATINUM: N Chadya, K Chigwida, M Mukumba(V Kadonzvo 82'), M Gaki(D Murimba 70), T Benhura, P Moyo, L Kashitigu, F Madhanhanga, B Mtigo( W Vuwa 71), Q Amini, T Mandinyenya(E Mweha 70)
Results
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