Ngezi Platinum Stars (3) 4
Herentals FC (0) 0
Top striker Obriel Chirinda scored a first half brace to help outgoing champions Ngezi Platinum Stars to an emphatic 4- 0 win over Herentals at Baobab Stadium yesterday.
Tinotenda Make scored his first goal for Ngezi Platinum also in the first half with teenager Tanaka Munemo getting the team’s fourth goal of the day late in the game.
The win saw Madamburo leapfroging Manica Diamonds into third place on 51 points from 32 matches.
Coach Takesure Chiragwi was delighted with how the team executed the game plan in the match.
“We prepared very well knowing the opponent that we are playing and it helped us a lot. I think the boys executed very well in terms of instruction and how we are supposed to take on the game and they did extremely well. Even with the substitution we made, they did very well,” Chiragwi said.
“Playing at home it's been very long not scoring more goals but today we have managed to do that because we are still working on that until the season ends. It’s important as former champions to make sure you end in a respectable position.”
The hosts were quick off the blocks and were rewarded inside the first nine minutes when Chirinda showed predatory instincts to pounce on a ball headed on by Farai Madhanaga to poke it home between the legs of goalkeeper Takudzwa Chikosi.
Ngezi Platinum Stars continued to probe as the visitors struggled to string together passes and it was Meke who doubled the score for the home team.
Meke’s first goal for the club he joined during the midseason window is one to remember after receiving the ball from outside the box before creating some space and sending a rocket into the top corner.
Chirinda beat the halftime whistle with another brilliant goal, this time receiving the ball from Qadr Amini and lofting the ball over an out-drawn Chikosi into the empty net from 30 yards out.
The second half was a bit more physical with dangerous tackles flying all over the pitch.
Munemo would then add his name on to the score sheet with two minutes remaining in the game with a well taken goal.
Herentals coach Celestino Benza bemoaned mistakes at the back.
“It was a series of mistakes and hopefully we are going to make sure we fix it in the next game. We gave away the game. It wasn’t because Ngezi Platinum were good but it was because of making mistakes in defence and we were punished because of that,” Benza said.
Results
Simba Bhora 0-2 FC Platinum
Chicken Inn 3-0 Bikita Minerals
Ngezi Platinum 4-0 Herentals