BY TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA
CRANBORNE BULLETS . . . . (0) 0
FC PLATINUM . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 1
DEFENDING champions FC Platinum kept their title defence aglow with a fourth consecutive victory over a battling Cranborne Bullets at Sakubva Stadium yesterday.
Exciting winger Donald Teguru scored the only goal of the match as the platinum miners soured into second place on the log standings, moving within a point of the log leaders.
Coach Norman Mapeza was happy with the result, but expressed disappointment with the way his charges conceded set pieces.
“I am happy with the result, but I was very disappointed with the way we conceded set pieces. If you do that you get punished but I am happy we grinded a result,” he said after the match.
“We did well in the first half and in the second half the opponents were coming at us. But the most important thing is how we managed the game to get the result.
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“We are not really looking at the log, this is a new team and its work in progress but I am happy we are grinding out results,” he added.
FC Platinum were dominant in the first half dictating the tempo of the match and showed a lot of verve going forward and it was no surprise when they were rewarded four minutes into the match.
Walter Musona flighted a cross into the danger zone, which deflected off a Bullets defender and fell into the path of an alert Teguru who made no mistake with a cool finish.
Cranborne Bullets though had their moments too, but we’re let down by lack of anticipation in the final third.
Marlvern Mudzukwa could have levelled matters on the quarter hour, but missed a headed opportunity.
Musona had an opportunity to double the lead for the visitors on 37 minutes, but his low shot went just wide of the target.
FC Platinum, however, suffered a major blow 17 minutes into the second half after Kelvin Mangiza was sent off by referee Pedzisai Chadya for a second bookable offence.
Soon after Mangiza’s expulsion, Mudzuka watched in disappointment his powerful shot being tipped over by the visitors’ goalkeeper Wallace Magalane as Cranborne Bullets regained control of the match taking the game to their opponents.
FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza responded by introducing veteran defender Lawrence Mhlanga for Hagaizo Magaya in 69 minutes as he sought to defend their lead.
Mapeza’s counterpart Nesbert Saruchera shared his disappointment with the goal arguing it was scored from an offside position.
“I am happy with the performance of my boys. They fought very hard. We outclassed them, you saw it but we couldn’t manage to score. But I am disappointed with the goal they scored, it was from a clear offside position. But we are now looking to the next match and we hope to get the results we don’t want to go to division one,” he said, adding that they would bolster the attack during this transfer window.
Teams: Cranborne Bullets: T Maenda, Xavier Janatana, More blessing Mushangwe, Douglas Mbewe, Melusi Foley, L Zvasiya, Kudakwashe Chindodza, Marlvern Mudzuka, Jarrison Selemani, Tadiwa Chibunyu,
FC Platinum: W Magalane, G Mbweti, G Bello, No more Chinyerere, Kelvin Mangiza, Brian Banda, Blessing Moyo, Hagiazo Magaya, ( L Mhlanga 69′), Donald Teguru, Walter Musona, Ngwenya Thandolwekosi (P Mutimbanyoka 87′)
