The Sunday Mail
Don Makanyanga in Zvishavane
Triangle…… (1) 1
FC Platinum…… (1) 2
DESPITE watching his charges blow away a lead and finish on the losing end for the second consecutive week, Triangle coach Taurai Mangwiro remains optimistic they can still squeeze through to the Chibuku Super Cup quarter-finals. After blowing an early first half lead against Ngezi Platinum Stars last weekend, Triangle went on to lose 1-3. It was a similar tale yesterday when Mangwiro’s men seized the initiative through a ninth minute strike by Delic Mulimba at Mandava Stadium and seemed on course to upstage FC Platinum.
But they still emerged with nothing after the Premiership kings rallied back through goals by Stanley Ngala after 29 minutes and a debatable penalty by Rodwell Chinyengetere on 75 minutes.
It was the second time in as many Chibuku Cup Group Three matches that FC Platinum have benefited from a penalty decision and Mangwiro was not amused by referee Martin Chivandire’s decision to award FC Platinum a spot-kick yesterday.
“We were in a position to consolidate our lead but went to sleep and they got an equaliser.
“But on the second goal we need to have another look at it. I think on my part I did not see how that could have been given as a penalty, but who am I to be telling you that?” said Mangwiro. Mangwiro has however, not thrown in the towel.
“We still fancy our chances of progressing, but it will be an uphill task as Ngezi Platinum Stars and FC Platinum are the best teams in the group but the good thing is that the two teams will be cancelling each other out, so we are still in it,” he said.
Although his side, who pumped half a dozen goals in their opening game, won again yesterday, coach Norman Mapeza was not happy with their performance.
“We managed to get the result but in terms of our play I am not happy. We were a little bit slow, many things were not spot on today.
“For me this is a building phase, that is why we changed formations throughout the game, we are using this tournament to build a team,” said Mapeza.
In scoring for Triangle, Zimbabwe youth international forward Mulimba controlled the ball with his chest before volleying home from the edge of the box.
FC Platinum finally managed to get back on their feet, which eventually saw action swinging from both ends and twice in the 27th and 28th minutes, they could have levelled terms but the duo of Donald Teguru and Silas Songani took turns to blow clear-cut chances.
Teguru finally made amends when he found Stanley Ngala on the run two minutes later, which saw the big midfielder slotting home from the assist to give FC Platinum the leveller.
That goal brought about the confidence and urgency in the miners’ game.
They pegged Triangle back and forced four corner kicks in the first half.
In the second period, Panashe Mutimbanyoka caused all sorts of problems for Triangle with his fancy footwork, leading to a foul on the edge of the Triangle penalty box. The resultant set-piece brought the best out of Triangle goalkeeper Takabva Mawaya who did well to deny Kelvin Mangiza his first goal for FC Platinum.
Both sides then went into defensive mode with little goal action from either side as they relied on counter raids.
A long upfront pass from the FC Platinum defence found Chinyengetere on the half-way line and he controlled the ball to perfection before charging towards the Triangle goal.
In a bid to stop the two-time Castle Soccer Star of the year, Brian Chikwenya brought Chinyengetere down and Chivandire did not think twice before pointing to the spot.
Chinyengetere dusted himself up and converted the set piece.
