FC PLATINUM............(1)2
CAPS UNITED.............(1)
FC PLATINUM rubbed more salt onto Caps United's wounds after beating them 2-1 in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match played at Mandava stadium yesterday.
A Godknows Murwira own goal and Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya's second half goal were all FC Platinum needed to account for the scalp of the Harare giants.
Blessing Sarupinda got Caps United's consolation goal as they dropped to 11th position, while FC Platinum remained on sixth position, with 34 points on their tally.
Lloyd Chitembwe’s side has now gone for seven matches without a win as they slowly glide closer to the teams that are embroiled in the relegation dogfight.
Caps have picked just three points from their last seven matches with draws against Black Rhinos, ZPC Kariba and Triangle while they lost to Ngezi Platinum Stars, Manica Diamonds, Herentals and FC Platinum.
FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza picked some positives from the win although he was not entirely pleased with his team's conversion rate.
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"We are missing chances, we have to score goals, what can we do? If we can't score goals then how can you be consistent?
"At the end of the day, I am more than happy with the win. We pick positives and our focus is now on the Triangle game.
"Our mind and our effort is on the Triangle game because this one is done. We want to work on our finishing so that we correct it in our next game," he said.
His counterpart Lloyd Chitembwe was livid with his team's defending, which he labelled "criminal'.
"It was nervy for us and when you cannot control your nerves, it can only affect your general application in the game.
"The decision making was poor and obviously when it is poor, it's hard to get anything.
"I attribute everything to nervy moments. Some of the mistakes we made in the first half were criminal, so to speak" Chitembwe said.
From the onset, the Green Machine defenders were very jittery and ultimately lacked basic communication.
They were almost punished as early as the fourth minute when Thandolwenkosi latched onto a stray pass from Devon Chafa just outside the box but he missed the target by inches, with goalie Tonderai Mateyaunga rooted to one spot.
Three minutes later, they found themselves trailing when Godknows Murwira turned the ball into his own nets in an attempt to clear a corner-kick that was delivered by Jarrison Selemani.
Caps continued having a torrid time, they failed to complete more than five passes in the first 20 minutes. The best chance they got fell to Ian Nyoni, who missed a sitter after he was picked unmarked by Phineas Bamusi.
In truth, the home side could have scored three goals in 30 minutes, but they had themselves to blame as they failed to beat Mateyaunga who was left exposed on numerous occasions.
And Caps equalised through Blessing Sarupinda on the 27th minute when he beat Petros Mhari from close range after a goalmouth mulee.
From them on, it turned into a see-saw affair, with FC Platinum getting the better chances compared to Caps United.
At one moment, Walter Musona made a solo run from the centre circle before passing the ball to Selemani, whose final effort was tame.
Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya also had a similar opportunity on the stroke of half-time when he beat the offside trap, but still he could not beat Mateyaunga who undoubtedly kept Caps United in the match.
They went to the break tied on 1-1 but Ngwenya restored the lead on the hour mark for FC Platinum.
Ngwenya capitalised on a Caps United defensive mix-up, to tap the ball home from a Panashe Mutimbanyoka cross.
TEAMS
FC PLATINUM: P Mhari, G Mbweti, L Mhlanga, K Mangiza, N Chinyerere, T Jamu(R Pavari 79'), J Mutudza, B Banda, J Selemani(P Mutimbanyoka 58), W Musona(P Chikwende 84'), T Ngwenya(D Teguru 85')
CAPS UNITED: T Mateyaunga, G Murwira(C Sithole 75), I Zambezi, B Musaka(H Chapusha 43), L Mangayira, D Chafa( E Manokore 46'), B Sarupinda, J Tulani, P Bamusi(T Daka 57', I Nyoni(W Manhondo 75), R Chinyerere
