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Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
AS the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League championship race draws to the wire, title chasing coaches are feeling the heat and shifting their focus from refining their tactical side of the game to blaming the state of pitches.

On Wednesday, the top two teams Chicken Inn and FC Platinum, blew the title race open again by drawing their matches to return defending champions Dynamos, who beat Dongo Sawmill 2-1, back into the picture.

Table toppers Chicken Inn had to come from a goal down against relegation fighting Tsholotsho to force a 1-1 draw at White City Stadium, while FC Platinum surrendered a first-half lead against relegation candidate Flame Lily at Lafarge Stadium in Harare.

The midweek games left Chicken Inn with 55 points, two ahead of FC Platinum, while DeMbare are third on 51 points.

Chicken Inn coach Joey Antipas and his FC Platinum counterpart Norman Mapeza said uneven pitches at White City and Lafarge affected their performances.

However, they gave their players credit for managing to get a point.

“This was a very difficult game. I say very difficult in the sense that the pitch was unfavourable. Credit to Tsholotsho for giving us a good game and I also give credit to my boys who never gave up fighting,” said Antipas.

Tsholotsho looked very comfortable on the ball at White City as they settled earlier than Chicken Inn, who only got into the groove in the second half.

Tsholotsho shot into the lead through Simbarashe Gorogodyo on the stroke of half time before Mitchell Katsvairo’s header six minutes into the second half ensured the Gamecocks went home with a point.

At Lafarge, FC Platinum appeared to be on their way to the top of the table after taking an early lead through Marshal Mudehwe only for Flame Lily defender Bright Chayambuka to score a late equaliser.

“I am not complaining about the pitch because we have drawn, but who do you think can play football on a pitch like this? It’s for the PSL (Premier Soccer League) to comment about the pitches, but this is not a good pitch to play football,” Mapeza said in his post match interview.

What became clear after the midweek games is that the title race will literally go to the wire.

With just two rounds of games remaining, Chicken Inn cannot afford to drop points in their home tie against Harare City tomorrow. A defeat for the Gamecocks will see them losing the top spot to FC Platinum, in the event that the Zvishavane miners overcome Caps United at Mandava.

Should Chicken Inn lose and FC Platinum win, the miners will take their points tally to 56 and lead the league table by a point.

Chicken Inn can still lose the top spot if they draw and FC Platinum win their next game. In such a situation, the two teams will be tied on 56 points but FC Platinum will top the table due to a superior goal difference.

Dynamos have a slight chance of claiming a record fifth title in a row should Chicken Inn and FC Platinum both lose tomorrow. DeMbare will take their points tally to 54 if they win, one behind the Gamecocks, something that both Chicken Inn and FC Platinum don’t want.

In the event that Dynamos win while Chicken Inn and FC Platinum draw, DeMbare will move two points behind the leaders.

Chicken Inn’s remaining games are against Harare City tomorrow at home and Flame Lily at Lafarge, while FC Platinum have Caps United (home) and away in Rusape against Dongo Sawmill.

Defending champions Dynamos are home against Chapungu and away to Buffaloes.

Football lovers should brace for an exciting end to the 2015 Castle Lager PSL season.

Matchday 29 fixtures
Tomorrow: Chicken Inn v Harare City (Luveve, 3PM SuperSport), FC Platinum v Caps United (Mandava), ZPC Kariba v Hwange (Nyamhunga), Dynamos v Chapungu (Rufaro)

Sunday: How Mine v Dongo Sawmill (Luveve), Highlanders v Tsholotsho (Barbourfields, 3PM SuperSport), Whawha v Flame Lily (Ascot), Triangle United v Buffaloes (Gibbo)

Matchday 30
Saturday, November 28: Chapungu v How Mine (Ascot), Tsholotsho v Harare City (White City), Caps United v Whawha (National Sports Stadium), Flame Lily v Chicken Inn (Lafarge), Dongo Sawmill v FC Platinum (Vhengere), Buffaloes v Dynamos (Sakubva)

Sunday, November 29: Hwange v Triangle United (Colliery), Highlanders v ZPC Kariba (Barbourfields)