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THERE was drama on the field and controversy outside, as Ngezi Platinum goalkeeper Chang Marion helped his side to a record-extending Chibuku Super Cup semi-final after a penalty shootout win over CAPS United at Baobab Stadium yesterday.
They were joined in the last four by rejuvenated Manica Diamonds, who completed a hattrick of 1-0 victories over FC Platinum this season, winning in the day’s other quarter-final at Sakubva Stadium.
Premiership leaders Simba Bhora will host Highlanders in the third quarter-final today, while the match between Dynamos and Yadah will be played at a later date as the defending champions are in Botswana on a CAF Confederation Cup assignment.
At Baobab Stadium, it was a match expected to be closely fought given the status of both teams and it lived up to its billing, with two beautiful goals spicing it up and then a cagey penalty shootout deciding it.
Marvellous Mukumba opened the scoring with a beauty just 10 minutes before the break, while Godknows Murwira curled a spectacular free-kick home at the hour mark to force penalties.
And Marion emerged the hero in the spin of the dice, saving Eric Manokore and William Manondo’s efforts.
Although Ngezi defender Kudzai Chigwida hit the upright to give Makepekepe some hope, Qadr Amini, Never Tigere, Malvern Hativagone and Edwin Madhanaga sliced their kicks away.
Courage Sithole, Bruce Kangwa and Hastings Chapusha got it right for the Green Machine, but Manondo needed to keep the scoreline level with Makepekepe’s fifth penalty, only for Marion to thwart his effort.
Ngezi Platinum’s victory means the miners have now reached the semi-finals of the Chibuku Super Cup for an unprecedented fifth time since winning the tournament in 2016.
They will feel they were the worthy winners of yesterday’s quarter-final showdown given that they created the most chances and dominated crucial phases of play, especially in the opening half.
But the Green Machine would feel they deserved it and could have secured victory had they not been reduced to 10 men with the dismissal of captain Murwira for a second bookable offence with 15 minutes still on the clock.
That followed a second altercation the defender had with Obriel Chirinda, both players having been booked after an entanglement, moments earlier.
And, as Murwira was being led to the changing room by CAPS United bouncers, an altercation ensued between the bouncers and Ngezi Platinum’s security team.
A fistfight broke out in the VIP section involving the two parties and the police had to handcuff at least three bouncers before whisking them away.
Ngezi Platinum coach Takesure Chiragwi was happy after the win.
“What’s important when playing cup games is to progress to the next round,” he said.
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“I think from the onset, we had our game plan and we tried to come to them and we missed a lot of chances, especially in the first half. The second half was a bit difficult because both teams were tactically very good and we were waiting for our chances and opportunities to attack.
“We thought we could protect our goal, but they got a set piece and we know Godknows Murwira has strength on set pieces and he managed to level the matters.”
CAPS United coach Lloyd Chitembwe was naturally disappointed.
“It was a game of two halves and I think in the first half, our application was not as good as we had hoped for, our reaction to certain situations was so slow and I thought that was the major difference,” he said.
“I’m sure in terms of decision-making, we were a slower side, we were misplacing some passes, very uncharacteristic of us.
“But in certain moments our judgement was poor, it also explains how we conceded the first goal, it could have been easily dealt with if our decision-making was very good.
“And I think some of those things are expected, especially after playing a very difficult game against Highlanders, its expected, it took quite a lot in terms of our physical application.”
At Sakubva Stadium, Manica Diamonds will have their goalkeeper Tedious Baye to thank for his match-winning saves that left the Mutare outfit maintaining a slender one-nil lead obtained in the sixth minute over FC Platinum, in the exciting Chibuku Super Cup quarter-final game.
Manica Diamonds assistant coach Patrick Mandizha conceded that his team did not play well, but was happy to have secured a vital win.
“We are happy that we managed to hold on to the slender lead until the end of the encounter. It was not easy. Our opponents were all over us from the onset of the encounter, but we defended well and managed to get the all-important win,” said Mandizha.
FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza, who was visibly disturbed, slammed his team’s lack of potency in front of the goal for their Chibuku Super Cup ouster.
“It’s sad that we had to lose this match after dominating the encounter.
“We were the better team from the onset, but somehow, we just could not score and we have suffered yet another defeat at the hands of the same team.
“This is exactly what happened again last week when they beat us at home. We played really well, but could not score. Today, we created numerous chances, but failed to score again.
“It’s part of the game of football,” said Mapeza.
