The Sunday Mail
Mukudzei Chingwere in Zvishavane
FC Platinum……………………..2
Triangle United ……………….1
CHAMPIONS FC Platinum recorded their second win on the bounce with Ali Sadiki scoring again and Nhamo Lameck getting one past his former paymasters at Mandava yesterday.
Sadiki, who also scored against Harare City last time out, and former Triangle talisman Nhamo scored either side of the half to outweigh a Ralph Kawondera strike.
However, the visitors will feel hard done by some decisions which included Collins Dhuwa’s effort being controversially ruled out.
Triangle also had what looked like a genuine penalty appeal waved away by referee Nkosana Nduna while veteran winger Sadiki escaped unpunished for a slap on Praise Tonha.
FC Platinum gaffer, Norman Mapeza, conceded that it was indeed a tough duel for his men.
“Like I said at our press conference that we always struggle against Triangle here and everyone saw it, it was not an easy game for us.
“It is a game that could have gone either way, a draw or even a defeat they had some good chances. But at the end of the day I am happy for the boys,” he said.
Triangle United coach Taurai Mangwiro refused to go into detail about the officiating in fear of attracting sanctions.
“It is just week two (so) I prefer talking of things we have control over, we gave it a fight but it was not our day.
“It is unfortunate the fight did not give us anything at the end of the day,” said Mangwiro.
The visitors had more meaningful threats at goal, Kawondera failed to connect Gerald Bero’s cross earlier on.
Eight minutes into the duel the Sugar Sugar Boys had a penalty appeal waved away by the officials.
On 11 minutes Sadiki curled in the opening goal with a well taken free kick.
Four minutes later the visitors thought they had equalised through Duhwa, but were denied by a dubious offside call.
After half an hour Triangle had the ball at the back of the net and this time there was no drama as Kawondera headed Russell Madamombe’s cross home.
Ten minutes before the breather Sadiki should have been sent off for slapping Tonha in the face but the referees did not see it or pretended to be blind.
Nhamo restored the lead for the hosts on 72 minutes when he volleyed home.
Right at the death Nyasha Chintuli almost salvaged a point for Triangle but his effort crashed against the woodwork.
Teams:
FC Platinum: P Mhari, L Mhlanga, G Bello, K Moyo, E Moyo, K Madzongwe, R Pavari (F Madhanaga 89), N Tigere (D Chafa 79), A Sadiki, R Kutsanzira (L Nhamo 17), P Chikwende
Triangle United: C Mariyoni, P Tonha, A Chiveya, D Dzvinyai, K Chigwida, D Mudadi (A Chivandire 60), G Bero (T January 73), R Kawondera, R Madamombe, C Dhuwa, D Murimba (N Chintuli 60)
