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Brandon Moyo, in BULAWAYO
Highlanders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 1
Triangle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
THEY are the only team unbeaten in the 2023 Castle Lager Premiership campaign.
And, a 61st minute beauty by defender Andrew Mbeba from a freekick was all it took for Highlanders to take charge at the top of the Castle Lager Premiership when they edged Triangle at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday.
Highlanders, who had more of the probing in attack, were duly rewarded when they won a freekick just outside the box at the left wing towards the Soweto terraces.
It was an acute angle and one could have thought of a delivery into the box, but with great composure and precision, Mbeba struck the ball diligently far beyond the reach of goalkeeper Matripples Muleya, to send the Bosso fans into delirium.
Mbeba gave Bosso their seventh win of the season with a brilliant set-piece from the edge of the box in the second half.
Amahlolanyama had more of the action but lacked the grasp of fundamentals in the final third running out of ideas, or out of depth and at times the defence and Muleya rising to the occasion.
Highlanders leapfrogged Ngezi Platinum Stars who shared the spoils with Sheasham. Bosso have now moved to 28 points on the standings, with seven wins and as many draws.
Bosso controlled most of the proceedings from the first whistle, creating chances however they failed to convert in the first stanza.
The first real chance of the match came in the 16th minute from a Melikhaya Ncube shot that was cleared off the line by the Triangle defenders. The attack was the first of many from the home side that were yet to come as the game progressed.
Highlanders striker Lynoth Chikuhwa came close to finding the net in the 19th minute with a header but the Triangle shot-stopper, Matripples Muleya was equal to the task, tipping the effort over the bar.
At the halfway mark, there was nothing to write home about from the Triangle attack as the home side controlled the entire half despite failing to find the back of the net after creating a lot of chances.
Starting the second half, both sides made changes attempting to get the breakthrough. Triangle brought in Enock Karembo for Norbet Zingo while Bosso replaced Godfrey Makaruse with Archford Faira.
A moment of brilliance from Mbeba in the 61st minute was all it took to separate the two sides. Mbeba scored a brilliant curler from the edge of the box to hand Amahlolanyama the lead and eventually the maximum points in front of a buzzing Soweto.
The Mbeba goal proved to be a wakeup call for Triangle United who started their search for an equaliser. The Sugar Boys worked hard in search of the goal that would have levelled matters but it never came. Bosso held on to their thin lead as the visitors got to go home with nothing.
Bosso survived a last five-minute onslaught with goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda producing point blank save and another Triangle chance cleared off the line.
Online Reporter