We Return to Winning Ways with Victory Over FC Platinum
We claimed a deserved 2-0 victory over FC Platinum in our Castle Lager Premier Soccer League Matchday 25 encounter at MWOS Ngoni Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The match was played in a sombre atmosphere as the football family combined to mourn the passing of Highlanders FC executive members, who tragically lost their lives.
Before kickoff, both teams observed a moment of remembrance in honour of the departed administrators, reflecting the unity and solidarity that defines the game beyond the ninety minutes.
When the action got underway, we started positively and looked to impose ourselves early.
Billy Veremu was the first to threaten after being played through in the fifth minute, but the assistant referee’s flag denied what looked to be a promising opportunity.
Five minutes later, Veremu turned provider with a perfectly weighted pass that released Emmanuel Mensah into the penalty area.
Mensah’s first touch ran slightly away from him, allowing the FC Platinum goalkeeper to gather before the striker could get his shot away.
At the other end, Francis Tizayi produced a brave piece of goalkeeping as he collided with an FC Platinum attacker while challenging for a long ball.
Our goalkeeper required medical attention but recovered well enough to continue.
He was immediately called into action again, producing an excellent save to tip a dangerous free-kick over the crossbar before our defence dealt with the resulting corner.
We continued to search for the opening goal as the first half progressed.
Dawid Ndeunyema saw his cross come back off the crossbar before falling kindly for Mensah, but the move was ruled out for offside in the build-up.
Reginald Chinemo also tested the visitors from a well-positioned free-kick, but his effort was comfortably saved.
Despite creating the better opportunities, we went into the halftime break with the scores level at 0-0.
We introduced Arthur Banda at the start of the second half in place of Dawid Ndeunyema as we looked to inject fresh energy into the attack.
Our persistence was rewarded in the 56th minute.
Billy Veremu unlocked the FC Platinum defence with an incisive pass that found Mensah in space.
The forward kept his composure and finished confidently to give us a deserved lead.
Shortly afterwards, Clive Kwangwari and Tafadzwa Nyabunze entered the match to replace Reginald Chinemo and Tinotenda Mutyambizi as we looked to maintain our intensity.
We remained in control of proceedings and continued to threaten going forward.
Our second goal arrived in the 77th minute.
Mensah completed his brace with another composed finish to put us firmly in command of the contest.
We made two further changes late in the game as Marcelline Mlilo and Mathew Sergio Murambiwa replaced Billy Veremu and Aristotle Manyamba.
We comfortably managed the closing stages to see out the result.
The final whistle confirmed a deserved 2-0 victory and another important three points at MWOS Ngoni Stadium.
Mensah’s clinical brace and Veremu’s creativity proved decisive as we delivered a professional performance in front of our supporters.
