HARARE – The Premier Soccer League title race will go to the wire after FC Platinum seized control of their destiny with a battling 1-0 home victory over Black Rhinos at Mandava, leapfrogging leaders CAPS United who lost 3-2 away to Ngezi Platinum.
It was a defeat that bore no catastrophic consequences for United, whose two-point cushion at the top going into Wednesday’s matches allowed them the luxury to lose.
What the defeat did, however, was remove the option of a draw for the Harare club who now must beat FC Platinum on the final day of the season to claim the title.
FC Platinum’s victory secured by a 62nd-minute conversion from the penalty spot by Devon Chafa, lifted them a point above United.
The Zvishavane club now holds all the cards, and can play for a draw on the final day.
The final day drama will also play out in the relegation places after Bulawayo Chiefs stunned Highlanders 1-0 at Barbourfields to lift themselves three-points clear of relegation.
Highlanders were unbeaten in 11 matches since Dutch coach Pieter de Jongh took over in September. They were chasing the match as early as the 3rd minute when Isaac Badu scored from a corner.
De Jongh blamed the defeat on a strike by his players who did not train in the lead-up to the match demanding payment of their allowances for winning the Chibuku Super Cup.
“For me, it is not surprising that we lost today because we did not train for three or four times. There was no good focus, no discipline and no motivation,” de Jongh said post-match.
Harare City gave themselves a chance at survival with a 3-1 victory over Dynamos in a Harare derby.
The win lifted Lloyd Chitembwe’s men two points clear of relegation.
Chapungu lost 2-0 away to Manica Diamonds who secured safety in their debut season. Chapungu sit just a point above the relegation places, with Herentals and Yadah both within striking distance ahead of the final round of matches.
Hwange were relegated after their 1-1 draw with TelOne in Gweru, becoming the second side to go down after Mushowani Stars who shocked ZPC Kariba 2-1.
Premier Soccer League Results
FC Platinum 1-0 Black Rhinos; Ngezi Platinum 3-2 CAPS United; Highlanders 0-1 Bulawayo Chiefs; Dynamos 1-3 Harare City; TelOne 1-1 Hwange; Manica Diamonds 2-0 Chapungu; ZPC Kariba 1-2 Mushowani Stars; Herentals 0-2 Chicken Inn
Final Day Fixtures
Bulawayo Chiefs FC v Herentals FC; Chicken Inn FC v TelOne FC; Hwange FC v ZPC Kariba FC; Mushowani Stars FC v Yadah FC; Triangle United FC v Dynamos FC; Harare City FC v Ngezi Platinum Stars FC; Caps United FC v FC Platinum; Black Rhinos FC v Manica Diamonds FC; Chapungu FC v Highlanders FC
