Don Makanyanga in Mhondoro-Ngezi
Ngezi Platinum Stars ………………………………(1) 4
Bulawayo Chiefs…………………………………….(2) 2
NGEZI Platinum Stars put up a dominant performance to come back from behind twice and book a place in quarter-finals of the Chibuku Super Cup with a 4-2 victory over Bulawayo Chiefs in a re-arranged first round match at Baobab Stadium yesterday.
Against the run of play, the 2022 Chibuku Super Cups winners took the lead in the fifth minute after Ngezi Platinum Stars defence was caught flat footed with an easy tap in by Reason Sibanda off a Leeroy Ndlovhu cross.
The hosts’ pressure finally paid dividends in the 20th minute when Bulawayo Chiefs’ Leeroy Ndlovhu beat his own goalkeeper from close range in an attempt to play a back pass.
Relying on counter-attacks Bulawayo Chiefs regained the lead five minutes before the break in similar to their first goal with the only difference being the characters involved.
It was carbon copy of the first goal in Ngezi Platinum Stars failed to deal with a cross from the right flank, which saw Bukhosi Sibanda tapping in a Nkosilathi Ncube cross.
Two minutes into added time of the first-half gezi Patinum Stars came close to levelling matters through Murasiranwa but the Ngezi Platinum Stars forward had his effort blocked.
Takesure Chiragwiwho returned from national duty on Wednesday, brought in former Bulawayo Chiefs striker Obriel Chirinda, Richard Hachiro and Nigel Makumbe for Murasiranwa, Kudzai Chigwida and Marvelous Mukumba.
Ngezi Platinum Stars levelled matters in the 55th minute when Farai Madhanaga headed in a Makumbe free-kick from the left flank.
The second-half substitutes were to combine to put Ngezi Platinum Stars upfront for the first time when Makumbe slotted in a Chirinda cross in the 75th minute
Two minutes later Bulawayo Chiefs conceded another own goal, a second of the afternoon when second-half substitute Charlton Siamalong beat his own goalkeeper in a bid to clear a cross Tanaka Munemo from the right.
Ngezi Paltinum Stars assistant coach, Kumbirai Mutiwekuziva praised his charges for great fighting spirit.
“It was great performance and great fighting spirit by the players.
“Credit should be given to them for coming twice and I believe that our depth also played part.
“It is great that we have progressed to the next round of the tournament,” said Mutiwekuziva.
Having conceded two own goals, Bulawayo Chiefs coach Thulani Sibanda blamed his team’s defeat on individual errors.
“We can attribute this defeat too some individual errors by our players and also Ngezi Platinum Stars have so much depth.
“Their second-half substitution of Richard Hachiro and Obriel Chirinda gave them an edge over us.
“We now go back to the drawing board and concentrate on staying in the league said,” Sibanda.