By Jeremiah Gora
Dynamos climbed to second place in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League standings after edging FC Platinum 1-0 at Mandava Stadium on today, while log leaders Scottland came from behind to defeat Bulawayo Chiefs 2-1 and extend their lead at the top to eight points.
The weekend’s results saw Scottland move to 52 points from 24 matches, eight ahead of Dynamos, who rose to 44 points following their victory in Zvishavane.
Hardrock FC, on 42 points, slipped to third but have a game in hand, while Ngezi Platinum Stars remain fourth on 40 points ahead of Sunday’s trip to Triangle United.
CAPS United, fifth on 39 points, also have the opportunity to close the gap when they host FC Hunters.
Scottland maintained their impressive title charge after recovering from a halftime deficit against Bulawayo Chiefs. Chiefs silenced the home crowd in first-half stoppage time when Melikhaya Ncube produced a moment of individual brilliance to put the visitors ahead.
Walter Musona levelled matters six minutes after the restart before Emmanuel Ziocha completed the comeback in the 84th minute, weaving past Chiefs defenders to score the winner and preserve Scottland’s commanding position at the summit.
Dynamos’ resurgence continued at Mandava Stadium, where Burkina Faso striker Daouda Sidibe scored his first goal for the Glamour Boys in the 71st minute.
The forward finished off a well-worked move created by Ghanaian midfielder Frank Agyemang to hand DeMbare maximum points against FC Platinum and move them above Hardrock into second place.
At Nyamhunga Stadium, ZPC Kariba boosted their survival hopes with a crucial 1-0 victory over Highlanders.
The match appeared destined for a draw until Munashe Kamwendo struck in the 83rd minute to hand the hosts all three points and deal Bosso another setback in their pursuit of the leading pack.
Simba Bhora were held to a 2-2 draw by MWOS in one of the day’s most entertaining encounters.
Ghanaian forward Wilson Mensah gave MWOS the lead in the 31st minute after being set up by Malvern Mudzuka before Namibian striker Petrus Junior Simaneka equalised for Simba Bhora.
Mensah restored MWOS’s advantage early in the second half with his second goal of the afternoon, but Ronald Chitiyo marked his return to Simba Bhora by scoring the equaliser in the 63rd minute to ensure the points were shared.
Chicken Inn claimed a hard-fought 1-0 victory over TelOne courtesy of Michael Charamba’s 42nd-minute strike.
TelOne goalkeeper Takudzwa Chikosi had earlier kept his side in the contest by saving a penalty in the 11th minute, but the visitors were unable to recover after Charamba broke the deadlock before halftime.
Matchday 24 concludes tomorrow with Hardrock FC travelling to Agama FC, Ngezi Platinum Stars visiting Triangle United at Gibbo Stadium and CAPS United hosting FC Hunters at Rufaro Stadium as the battle for the title and the fight against relegation continue to intensify.
