KARIBA - FC Platinum scored three second half goals to dump wasteful Harare City out the Mbada Diamonds Cup yesterday.

After playing second fiddle to City in the first half, the Zvishavane-based miners were a rejuvenated side in the second stanza. Barely two minutes into the second half, Allen Gahadzikwa thrust the miners into the lead when he headed home a corner by man-of-the-match Ali Sadiki.

Joel Ngodzo made the match safe after 78 minutes when he rammed home a rebound from William Manondo’s full-bloodied shot that had been blocked back into play by Witness Nyamusaka.

The scoreline misleadingly reflects a one-sided match that never was.

The match was a game of two halves.

While the second was all Platinum, the first totally belonged to wasteful City.

As early as the 12th minute, City skipper Godfrey Nguwodzawo fluffed a golden chance when he fired wide inside the box after being set up by strike partner Quinton Masika.
Moments later, the City skipper’s glancing header off a Songani header went agonisingly wide.

When Nguwodzawo spurned another golden chance when Nathan Ziwini delivered a perfect cross it was clear that City would live to regret.

Indeed, the second half proved to be a lesson to City on the art of finishing.

Platinum coach Tendai Chikuni attributed the victory to teamwork.

“When you want to win games you have to play as a team. That is exactly what we did today. There is tough competition for places in the team because we don’t play names. All the players have to fight for jerseys.”

City coach Bigboy Mawiwi once again bemoaned his team’s wastefulness.

“One minute, 21 seconds, we conceded a soft goal and that was the turning point.

We were totally in control of the second half but we didn’t get the desired goals.”