FC PLATINUM............... (0) 1
BULAWAYO CITY........... (0)
A SECOND half goal from Walter Musona was all FC Platinum needed to account for the scalp of Bulawayo City in what turned out to be one of their toughest challenges this season.
Musona tapped the ball home from a delightful cross that was delivered into the box by Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya on the 55th minute to give them the all-important win.
With the win, they opened a 11 point lead over Dynamos who face Ngezi Platinum this afternoon at the National Sports Stadium and 10 clear of Chicken Inn, who moved to second position with a win over Whawha yesterday..
Despite the win Norman Mapeza was disappointed with how his team performed.
"We conceded a corner-kick in 32 seconds and that should tell you something. I'm not happy with the way we performed today.
“We won but this was a very tough match," Mapeza said.
"This isn't the way we wanted to play, but I'm happy that we got the points. It's getting tough by each game.
"The first minutes shaped the game for us. We started on the wrong foot and that's why we looked out of shape. We could have lost, but we survived the scare."
His counterpart Farai Tawachera was happy in defeat.
"We played well today and I'm sure we could have won had we been effective upfront. This performance was brilliant, I don't fear any opponent.
"If we played like this against FC Platinum, then surely we will do well against the teams we are facing," he said.
The first half deservedly belonged to Bulawayo City in terms of both possession and chances created.
They got their first chance as early as the first minute when Obadiah Tarumbwa dispossessed Gift Mbweti, but the veteran forward unleashed a weak effort that was easily collected by Wallace Magalane.
Eight minutes later Chrispen Machisi whipped in a delightful cross from the right flank, but Tarumbwa's headed effort missed the target.
The former Highlanders forward created another opportunity on the 16th minute when he threaded a through pass to Melikhaya Ncube, but the latter rather produced a tame effort.
In contrast the hosts hardly troubled Bulawayo City's goal minder Reward Muza as they lacked a clean supply from their usually reliable providers Rainsome Pavari and Blessing Moyo.
Mapeza was even forced to withdraw Oscar Bhebhe in the first half, replacing him with Ngwenya in a desperate attempt to add firepower to his forward line.
That decision paid off in the second half on the 55th minute when the rookie forward, Ngwenya, turned provider after leading a sizzling counter attack before curling a delightful cross that was easily tapped home by Musona.
City almost restored parity a minute later through Mpumelelo Bhebhe, who forced an acrobatic save from Wallace Magalane with a shot from the centre circle.