admin
From Lovemore Dube in Chiredzi
Chiredzi FC …0
Highlanders..3HIGHLANDERS yesterday continued their free scoring spree as they fired three without reply against Chiredzi FC to leap to pole position in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League log.
In a match played at Chishamiso Stadium in the Hippo Valley Estates, Highlanders started the more offensive of the two sides with Mthulisi Maphosa shooting wide from the edge of the box after being set up by Ozias Zibande in a move that involved Knox Mutizwa in the second minute.
On four minutes, Erick Mudzingwa’s shot drew a good save from the home side’s goalkeeper Claudius Gunduza.
Chiredzi came close in the 15th minute through Malvern Gaki who took advantage of lethargic defending by Bosso’s centre half Dumisani “Fazo” Ndllovu and Innocent Mapuranga. Bosso goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya rose to the occasion, punching the ball out for a corner.
When play switched to the other half, Milton Ncube’s header, off a Simon Munawa cross on the right, went straight to Gunduza.
For a while Bosso seemed to be in low gear losing possession unnecessarily. On 24 minutes, Norman Maroto’s shot deflected on Mapuranga and was saved by Diya.
Then the goal came with Zibande putting Highlanders ahead in the 26th minute, side-footing a rebound off a Kuda Mahachi stinger which Gunduza found too hot to handle.
The goal appeared to have breathed life into Highlanders’ game. Gaki had his speculative shot from 25 metres going over the bar, again benefiting from poor marking in the centre.
Referee Rugare Kusosa and his assistants Allen Parehwa and Nyarai Chirwa had a good first half, yellow carding Gaki for simulation and another Chiredzi player Abel Gwatidzo for a blatant foul on Mahachi.
Tawanda Mpungu nearly broke the deadlock but his effort did not trouble Diya in the 47th minute. A minute later, Zibande and Mutizwa were guilty of poor finishing, fluffing successive chances.
Munya Chiwara was denied by the bar from a free kick needlessly conceded by Mudzingwa in the 65th minute. Diya recovered to save a shot taken in the ensuing melee. The experienced back four of Mapuranga, Ndlovu, Bruce Kangwa and Simon Munawa were guilty of allowing the ball to get behind them. In the 67th minute, Charles Sibanda missed from close range a cross from Mahachi.
Sibanda had another glorious chance in the 69th minute but his header went wide. Mahachi made it 2-0 in the 75th minute, latching on to a clearance, beating Gwatidzo on the right and cutting in and letting go a low shot that beat Gunduza.
Sibanda broke his goal drought with a well struck goal in the 81st minute. An exchange of passes at the edge of the box had Welcome Ndiweni lofting the ball over Fidelis Mangezi with Sibanda obliging with a first time shot to the right which hit the upright and nestled in to make it 3-0 and assure Bosso of maximum points, propelling them to the top of the standings by virtue of superior goal difference.
In the 89th minute, Ncube reacted poorly to a gift wrapped chance created by an impressive Sibanda.
“It was a positive attitude that brought us the points. It’s always good to get a positive result away from a determined team like Chiredzi. We created chances and converted them,” said Bosso coach Kelvin Kaindu.
His counterpart, Moses Chunga, conceded defeat. “We came to compete and they were better than us,” said Chunga.
Teams
Chiredzi: C Gunduza, T Mpungu, D Bakali (W Kamudyariwa 46th min) F Mangezi, A Gwatidzo, R Nenzou (T DePhistark 46th min) J Dzingai M Chiwara, N Maroto, M Gaki, S Msimbu,
Highlanders: M Diya, S Munawa, B Kangwa, D Ndlovu, I Mapuranga, E Mudzingwa, K Mutizwa (Rahman 56th min) M Maphosa (W Ndiweni 71st min) O Zibande (C Sibanda 59th min) K Mahachi, M Ncube
Online Reporter