Football
Simba Mushati, Special to ESPN 7y

Ngezi prevail in battle of the Platinum Miners

Ngezi Platinum emerged victorious in Saturday's battle of the Platinum Miners by beating rivals FC Platinum 2-1 at Baobab Stadium to reclaim top spot in the Zimbabwe Premier League.

Exciting forward Donald Teguru fired Ngezi into the lead after just 20 minutes, before teenage right-back Tatenda Mchisa converted with a bullet header as the Mhondoro-based Miners surged further ahead early in the second-half.

Ngezi had gone into the matchday 16 encounter on the back of a four-match winless run while Pure Platinum, for all their struggles this term, had remained unbeaten since the start of the season.

Norman Mapeza's team rallied late on, but Bret Amidu's 73rd-minute strike proved mere consolation as Ngezi held on for a vital win which takes them back to the top of the table with 31 points, two ahead a revitalised Dynamos in second.

Dynamos had themselves climbed into top spot for the first time this season after brushing aside Bantu Rovers 2-0 for a sixth-consecutive win on Friday evening.

Midfielder Denver Mukamba, who has been in fine form of late, was involved in both goals, with his well-taken corner kick being powerfully headed home by Lincoln Zvasiya for Dynamos' first early in the second-half.

Mukamba then netted his fifth goal in six matches with brilliant effort from the edge of the box to ensure another full set of points for Dembare.

The league's top scorer Bukhosi Sibanda, controversially dropped from Zimbabwe's COSAFA Cup squad by coach Sunday Chidzambwa, put in another enterprising display albeit in a losing cause for Bantu.

In other matchday 16 matches, Chapungu stunned former champions Chicken Inn 2-0 at Ascot, with Allen Tavarwisa and Raymond Chikande scoring either side of the half-time whistle as the airmen registered their fourth win in six matches.

It has been a remarkable revival for Chapungu, who at one stage looked like they were resigned to spending a whole campaign at the foot of the table before registering their first win on matchday 9.

The Gweru-based side now sit ninth on 21 points, eight above the relegation places.

Elsewhere, ZPC Kariba had to come from behind to salvage a 1-1 draw at home to Black Rhinos.

Lot Chiunga put the visitors ahead on the quarter hour only for Kariba forward Francesco Zekumbawire to level after 35 minutes.

The stalemate at Nyamhunga means Kariba continue to lose ground in the title race as they remain in eighth place with 24 points, seven behind leaders Ngezi.

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