Sports Reporter
NGEZI Platinum’s hopes of reclaiming pole position from Highlanders went up in smoke Saturday afternoon following a 2-1 defeat to stubborn Herentals in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Mandava.
Trailing Highlanders by two points, Ngezi Platinum needed victory to go top for at least 24 hours as Bosso host city rivals Chicken Inn at Barbourfields Sunday.
However, Herentals had other ideas and stunned Ngezi Platinum who slumped to third place in the process as Manica Diamonds moved into second place on goal difference.
Manica Diamonds beat newcomers Green Fuel 2-0 with both goals coming in the second half.
Dynamos bounced back from last weekend’s goalless draw against Simba Bhora at Barbourfields with a 1-0 win over Cranborne Bullets at Nyamhunga in Kariba.
Simba Bhora led for much of the game but were held to a 1-1 draw by Yadah.
Champions FC Platinum, who ended Highlanders’ unbeaten start last weekend, could only settle for a 1-1 draw at Bulawayo Chiefs.
WEEK 21 RESULTS
Saturday 2 September 2023
Bulawayo Chiefs 1-1 FC Platinum
Cranborne Bullets 0-1 Dynamos
Herentals 2-1 Ngezi Platinum
Manica Diamonds 2-0 Green Fuel
Sheasham 1-0 Hwange
Simba Bhora 1-1 Yadah
Latest Standings
| Club | P | W | D | L | F | A | PTS | GD |
| HIGHLANDERS | 20 | 11 | 8 | 1 | 16 | 6 | 41 | 10 |
| MANICA DIAMONDS | 21 | 11 | 6 | 4 | 28 | 12 | 39 | 16 |
| NGEZI PLATINUM | 21 | 11 | 6 | 4 | 27 | 15 | 39 | 12 |
| DYNAMOS | 21 | 9 | 9 | 3 | 25 | 8 | 36 | 17 |
| CHICKEN INN | 20 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 19 | 14 | 32 | 5 |
| HERENTALS COLLEGE | 21 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 24 | 20 | 32 | 4 |
| FC PLATINUM | 21 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 21 | 18 | 31 | 3 |
| GREEN FUEL | 21 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 17 | 20 | 26 | -3 |
| CAPS UNITED | 20 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 18 | 16 | 25 | 2 |
| BULAWAYO CHIEFS | 21 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 0 |
| HWANGE | 21 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 17 | 20 | 24 | -3 |
| ZPC KARIBA | 20 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 13 | 23 | 24 | -10 |
| SHEASHAM | 21 | 4 | 11 | 6 | 10 | 20 | 23 | -10 |
| SIMBA BHORA | 21 | 4 | 10 | 7 | 15 | 17 | 22 | -2 |
| YADAH | 21 | 6 | 3 | 12 | 16 | 29 | 21 | -13 |
| TRIANGLE | 20 | 3 | 11 | 6 | 13 | 22 | 20 | -9 |
| CRANBORNE BULLETS | 21 | 4 | 6 | 11 | 11 | 19 | 18 | -8 |
| BLACK RHINOS | 20 | 3 | 6 | 11 | 11 | 22 | 15 | -11 |