Bulawayo Chiefs................. (0)0
FC Platinum....................... (1)1
A 38th minute Davison Marowa strike was enough to help former champions FC Platinum shoot to the top of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League standings following a hard fought victory on a chilly afternoon at Luveve Stadium yesterday.
Chiefs defender, Xolisani Moyo's glaring error allowed Wilfred Muvirimi to steal the ball and the striker's composed finish inside the penalty area hit the underside of the crossbar.
Marowa then collected the rebound and fired an unstoppable pile drive beating an outstretched Munashe Ndlovu in goals for Chiefs.
FC Platinum moved a point above Manica Diamonds to 31 points with the Gem Boys dropping to second position after being held by Yadah Stars in Harare.
FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza was not pleased with the performance of his charges despite the win.
"It was a good game of football, but in terms of performance, I don't think we really did well. We had some good opportunities, but some poor decision making in the final third (was our major undoing).
"Maybe it's because of the break and the momentum dropped a little bit. But look at the end of the day I think what was important was for us to come here and collect the maximum points." said Mapeza.
Chiefs coach Thulani Sibanda felt his charges had contained FC Platinum, but Moyo's error cost them in the end.
"It wasn't a difficult game. Not at all. We were playing according to the game plan and it was going on well until that mistake from Xolisani Moyo. What we intended (to do) was to make sure that we don't allow them to play in between us... so I think we were doing very very well until that mistake," said Sibanda.
It was FC Platinum that seized the early initiative and after 11 minutes, the menacing Marowa sent a tantalising cross which Juan Mutudza couldn't get to with Ndlovu badly exposed.
Chiefs came close after a quarter of the hour when Leeroy Ndlovu and Never Rauzhi failed to take responsibility for shooting and the ball was whisked out for a corner kick.
From the resultant corner Mutudza almost beat his own goalkeeper but Bizabani was alert to parry the ball out for another corner kick.
After 38 minutes Platinum took the lead from a Davison Marowa pile drive.
In the second half, FC Platinum continued to play purposeful football and Rainsome Pavari should have scored in the 68th minute after some fine work from Marowa but indecision cost them.
With three minutes left, Rauzhi almost equalised for Chiefs but his effort was deflected for a corner kick, which was the last goalmouth action before referee Thembinkosi Sibanda blew his whistle to end the match.
Yesterday's
Ngezi Platinum 3-0 Chicken Inn
Yadah 1-1 Manica Diamonds
Simba Bhora 3-0 Arenel
Today's Fixtures
Hwange vs GreenFuel (Colliery), Highlanders vs Bikita Minerals (Barbourfields), Dynamos vs ZPC Kariba (Rufaro), TelOne vs Caps United (Bata), Chegutu Pirates vs Herentals (Baobab)