CAPS United closed in on log leaders FC Platinum with an emphatic 4-1 win over Mutare City Rovers at the National Sports Stadium on Saturday.

It was a sweet victory for CAPS United as FC Platinum were held to another stalemate at home, drawing1-1 with Chicken Inn at Mandava.

Tafadzwa Rusike opened the scoring nine minutes into the game after fine exchanges with Leonard Tsipa and Phineas Bamusi but Rusike could not last the distance as he was replaced by Moses Muchenje in the 28th minute after he had complained of a groin strain.

Leonard Tsipa doubled Makepekepe’s lead two minutes to the breather making up for some earlier misses. The two teams went for the half time with CAPS leading 2-0.

Mutare City came from the half time break a more determined side and were rewarded in the 61st minute with Agrippa Murimba beating an out drawn Edmore Sibanda in goal for CAPS United. As Gusha Bhora threw numbers upfront in search of an equaliser, Joel Ngodzo won possession just after the centre circle and spotted Victor Twaliki off his line but his audacious lob rebounded on the crossbar and onto the line.

Mutare City players thought the ball had crossed the line but referee Norman Matemera did not signal for a goal and in the ensuing confusion Tsipa reacted swiftly and buried the rebound completing his brace in the 65th minute.

Tsipa’s goal sucked all the energy Gusha Bhora players had and Twaliki failed to handle a cross from Ronald Pfumbidzai allowing Simba Nhivi to score Makepekepe’s fourth of the afternoon.  

At Mandava stadium, FC Platinum stuttered once again at home after allowing Chicken Inn an equaliser two minutes from time.

Platinum drew their last two home matches to Hwange and Mutare City and thought they had vanquished the demons after cruising to a first half lead through Walter Musona. But as has been the script with the Gamecocks at Mandava in the previous seasons, Chicken Inn grabbed a late equaliser through a thunderbolt from Nicholas Muchadeyi.

Thomas Sweswe saw red at Luveve stadium for swearing at the referee as ZPC Kariba sank Tsholotsho deeper into relegation zone. Timire Mamvura put the visitors ahead in the fourth minute before Lincoln Zvasiya doubled the lead with nine minutes to half time. Denford Chirwa pulled one back just before halftime but it was not enough to ignite a comeback in the second half as Kariba held on to the win to third position with 34 points, two ahead of Highlanders who play against How Mine on Sunday.

Chapungu turned on the power in the second half to beat Border Strikers 3-0 at Ascot stadium. Aleck Marime grabbed a memorable brace against his former paymasters while veteran striker Philip Marufu weighed in with the other goal.

Castle Lager PSL Matchday 21

Saturday Results
CAPS United 4 (Tafadzwa Rusike 9', Leornard Tsipa 43' 65', Simba Nhivi 86')
Mutare City 1 (Agrippa Murimba 62')

Tsholotsho FC 1 (Denford Chirwa 44')
ZPC Kariba 2 (Timire Mamvura 4', Lincoln Zvasiya 36')

FC Platinum 1 (Walter Musona 34')
Chicken Inn 1 (Nicholas Muchadeyi 88')

Chapungu 3 (Aleck Marime 60' 90',  Philip Marufu 81')
Border Strikers 0