Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube, [email protected]
Highlanders 1-1 Bulawayo Chiefs
BENJANI MWARUWARI’S first league match in charge of Highlanders ended level at Barbourfields yesterday after Bosso needed a late penalty from Benjamin Adeguon to cancel out Zibusiso Dambo’s first-half strike for Bulawayo Chiefs.
For long stretches, it looked as if Chiefs were going to walk away with the points.
The visitors had gone ahead in the 28th minute and Highlanders spent much of the afternoon chasing the game, their attacks often hurried and their finishing uncertain as the crowd grew increasingly restless.
The equaliser finally came late on when Mongameli “Smola’’ Tshuma burst into the penalty area and went down under pressure. Referee Mhaka Magare pointed to the spot and Adeguon calmly rolled the ball past Matripples Muleya to pull Bosso level and bring a roar of relief from the home supporters.
A draw probably reflected the balance of the match.
Chiefs looked more organised and dangerous whenever they broke forward, while Highlanders struggled at times to impose themselves in midfield.
The first warning arrived inside 10 minutes when Clive Rupiya rose to meet a Brian Muza cross and guided his header just wide, close enough to bring a murmur from the terraces.
Highlanders thought they had found a response a few minutes later.
Mongameli Tshuma delivered from the left and Darlington Mukuli climbed well to nod the ball down into the path of Marvin Sibanda arriving inside the box, but the striker leaned back and sent his effort over the bar.
Chiefs continued to press, and in the 28th minute, they found the opening they had been threatening.
Prince Ndlovu lost possession while trying to move the ball out on the right and Dambo reacted quickest, stepping onto the loose ball before driving forward and unleashing a powerful shot from outside the box that flew beyond Reward Muza and into the corner of the net.
The small pocket of Chiefs supporters erupted while the rest of Barbourfields sat in uneasy silence.
Highlanders tried to push back before half-time but their play lacked rhythm.
Adeguon forced Muleya into a sharp save in the closing minutes of the half and Rupiya nearly doubled the visitors’ lead soon after when Muza had to block his effort and scramble up again to deal with the rebound.
Bosso returned after the break with more urgency.
Rainsome Pavari stretched Muleya with a dipping free kick early in the second-half as Highlanders began to spend longer spells in the Chiefs half, though clear chances remained scarce.
Chiefs still carried a threat on the counter-attack and Washington Mapuya found space in the Bosso defence only to lift his effort over the bar.
As the match moved toward the closing stages, Highlanders threw more men forward, and the crowd sensed there might still be one last chance.
It arrived when Tshuma drove into the box and went down under pressure, leaving referee Magare with little hesitation before pointing to the penalty spot.
Adeguon stepped forward and calmly sent Muleya the wrong way to earn Highlanders a share of the points.
After the match, Mwaruwari admitted his side had found Chiefs difficult to break down.
“Bulawayo Chiefs were very strong on the counter-attack, and they made the game difficult for us,” he said. “But the boys kept pushing, and we managed to get something from the match.”
Chiefs coach John Nyikadzino praised his players for their discipline but felt the late penalty denied them a deserved victory.
“The boys followed instructions and worked very hard,” he said. “It is disappointing to concede so late, but I am happy with the performance.”
For Mwaruwari, the afternoon offered a point from his first Premiership match in charge, though the new Bosso coach will know there is still work to be done as Highlanders settle under his leadership.
