FC Platinum suffered yet another humiliating home defeat this time in the hands of premiership debutants Sheasham who beat them 2-1 in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League Week 17 clash played at Mandava Stadium on Saturday.
The four-time in a row champions, who now look too fragile to defend their title, went into the clash hoping to put behind their recent poor form which saw them lose to Yadah 15 July and drop points in a goalless draw away to Hwange a week later.
The three goals of the match were all scored in the second half.
In another fixture played Saturday, in-form Manica Diamonds bounced back from a recent defeat to Highlanders to wallop inconsistent Bulawayo Chiefs 3-1 at Gibbo.
ZPC Kariba also continued on their impressive recovery path with a 1-0 home victory against Cranborne Bullets at Nyamhunga while Chicken Inn were 2-1 victors over Hwange in a clash played at Luveve.
Match Day 17 of the current premiership race continues this Sunday with a top of the table clash between second placed Ngezi Platinum and log leaders Highlanders at Baobab.
Ngezi would be keen to close the four-point gap that separates them with the Bulawayo side that has won all its last five games in a row.
But they have their work cut out as Highlanders are yet to lose a match this season and would be striving to extend the point buffer between them and their closest challengers.
In other matches, Dynamos return to Barbourfields to host fellow Harare side Yadah, while struggling Caps United are away to Herentals at Mandava Stadium.
Basement side Black Rhinos entertain Simba Bhora at Bata while the Manicaland derby between Triangle and Green Fuel at Gibbo puts the lid on Match Day 17 round of fixtures.
Following Saturday’s matches, Highlanders still top the standings on 34 points from 16 games played while Ngezi are second on 30 with the same number of games.
Manica Diamonds are third on 29 points from 17 games played while Chicken Inn jumped to fourth with 28 points to their name.
FC Platinum occupy number five on 26 from 17 matches while Dynamos are sixth on 25 points from 16 games played.
SATURDAY RESULTS AT A GLANCE:
Manica Diamonds 3-1 Bulawayo Chiefs
ZPC Kariba 1-0 Cranborne Bullets
FC Platinum 1-2 Sheasham
Chicken Inn 2-1 Hwange
Source ZimLive
