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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter—
Highlanders 2-1 Dynamos
TWO classy first half goals from Obidiah Tarumbwa and Knox Mutizwa were all that Highlanders needed to dispatch perennial rivals Dynamos from the Easycall Cup in yesterday’s semi-final match at Barbourfields Stadium. The victory set an all-Bulawayo final after Chicken Inn’s emphatic 3-0 win over Caps United on Saturday.
Backed by their lively and vociferous fans, Highlanders deservedly shot into the lead through Tarumbwa in the sixth minute. Tarumbwa coolly slotted the ball past Dynamos goalkeeper and Castle Lager Young Player of the Year Tatenda Mukuruva from close range.
Bosso had settled quicker than their opponents and were always first on the ball, winning most duels. Simon Munawa, Nqobizitha Masuku, Rahman Kutsanzira and Valentine Ndaba did a great job of suffocating the Dynamos midfield.
Tarumbwa made the most of a Ndaba weak goal bound shot, which he intercepted with Dynamos centre-backs Elisha Muroiwa and Augustine Mbara ball watching before beating a hapless Mukuruva.
Dynamos tried to come back quickly but were denied by Bosso goalie Ariel Sibanda, whose performance has dramatically improved since the coming in of interim head coach Amini Soma-Phiri and interim technical director Cosmas Zulu after Week 21.
In the 10th minute, an overlapping Blessing Moyo got to the end of a Rodrick Mutuma through ball and connected with a volley that was parried for a corner by Sibanda.
Bosso quickly regrouped and took firm control of the game. They were unlucky not to increase their lead in the 18th minute when Mutizwa beat Mbara at the by-line and cutback to Ndaba, whose shot was blocked for a corner. From the resultant corner kick, Erick Mudzingwa’s header was cleared off the goal-line by Carlos Rusere.
A quick counter after Dynamos had failed to make use of a corner kick gifted Bosso their second goal in the 32nd minute. Tarumbwa picked the ball from the blind side, sent a long pass to Mutizwa, who beat Muroiwa to come face-to-face with Mukuruva, whom he beat with a delightful dink, torching wild celebrations from the Bosso players and fans.
Highlanders had a penalty appeal turned down by referee Ruzive Ruzive a minute before halftime when Muroiwa blocked a cross from Kutsanzira with his hand. Dynamos coach Tonderai Ndiraya made a bold decision, pulling out defender and captain Mbara for winger Masimba Mambare two minutes before the break.
DeMbare returned from the breather fired up and were all over their opponents as Highlanders sat back; probably hoping to catch their opponents on the counter, but Dynamos never gave them such room to manoeuvre.
Bosso could have gone 3-0 up, but Tarumbwa’s 48th minute cracker was punched out for a corner by Mukuruva. After that, it was all DeMbare, with Highlanders desperately holding on. Ronald Chitiyo dribbled past three Highlanders players and hit a grounder that Sibanda saved in the 50th minute.
Seven minutes later, Bosso’s resilience was breached when Moyo sent in a long pass targeting an overlapping Mushure, who raced past Highlanders’ right-back Tendai Ngulube; played the ball to Mutuma, who had the simplest task of tapping into an empty net as Sibanda had miscalculated to rush out in an attempt to cut the ball before it reached Mushure.
The goal gave DeMbare hope, but Bosso held on, although there were a number of nail biting moments for their fans. Mutizwa should have killed off the match in the 77th minute after getting to the end of a Tarumbwa pass, but the country’s 2015 top marksman took long to shoot and the DeMbare defenders closed him down in the box.
Then came the moment of madness that spoiled a good semi-final in the 88th minute when Mutuma kicked Matema in an off the ball incident and referee Ruzive showed the indisciplined Dynamos forward a straight red card while the Bosso man was shown a yellow.
On his way to the dressing room, Mutuma charged at Matema and spat onto the Bosso striker’s face. Tarumbwa, who had been substituted, had a go at Mutuma from the touchline and earned a yellow card too.
Teams
Highlanders: Ariel Sibanda, Tendai Ngulube, Bruce Kangwa, Felix Chindungwe, Erick Mudzingwa, Simon Munawa, Nqobizitha Masuku (Douglas Sibanda, 73rd minute), Rahman Kutsanzira, Valentine Ndaba (King Nadolo, 65th minute), Knox Mutizwa, Obidiah Tarumbwa (Ralph Matema, 84th minute)
Unused Subs: Njabulo Nyoni, Julius Daudi, Godfrey Makaruse, Honest Moyo
Dynamos: Tatenda Mukuruva, Blessing Moyo, Ocean Mushure, Godknows Muwrira, Elisha Muroiwa, Augustine Mbara (Masimba Mambare, 42nd minute), Walter Mukanga, Carlos Rusere, Ronald Chitiyo, Rodrick Mutuma, Takesure Chinyama (Ralph Kawondera, 84th minute)
Unused Subs: Tonderai Mateyaunga, Milton Makopa, Bret Amidu, Zivanai Mhanda, Erick Opoku
Statistics
Highlanders Dynamos
6 Corners 9
2 Offsides 2
5 Shots on target 6
4 Shots off target 6
6 Fouls 13
4 Yellow Cards 0
0 Red Cards 1
0 Penalties 0
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