adminAfter a dangerous raid from the marauding Chicken Inn strikers, Bruce Tshuma engaged in an unnecessary hard tackle with the ball ending up on the path of an alert Mahachi.
The ginger-haired striker obliged by taking a few strides towards goal before letting a stinging volley which beat the Bosso goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda all systems out and marked his team’s first league victory over Highlanders since they joined the Premiership in 2011.
Sibanda appeared to slip before taking a dive towards the ball. The pitch was wet and seemed to affect the rhythm of the game as players lost their balance in some of the build-ups or when in defence.
The match had started with Highlanders the more offensive side and as early as the first minute Peter ‘‘Rio’’ Moyo found the out of form Njabulo ‘‘Tshiki’’ Ncube whose shot was saved by Njabulo Nyoni in goal for Chicken Inn.
Seven minutes later Mthulisi Maphosa who had earlier on received a yellow card for a rough challenge on Chicken Inn’s Danny Phiri shot over the bar when a loose ball had fallen on his path.
Chicken Inn’s first real attempt at goal came in the 15th minute when Phiri tried from afar but watched his shot miss the target.
Two minutes later Bruce Tshuma could have opened the scoring for Highlanders but shot weakly at Nyoni after being fed by the enterprising Moyo.
In the 21st minute Moyo, Njabulo and Milton Ncube combined well but Moyo’s close range shot went wide.
A minute later Maphosa was too late to react when the Chicken Inn goalkeeper spilled the ball and collided with the Bosso hard man.
A sweeping move by Chicken Inn involving Tendai Ndoro, Mahachi, Tendai Mukambi and Brian Juru which opened the Bosso defence ended with the latter shooting wide much to the relief of the Highlanders supporters.
Wasteful Mahachi picked his spot well in the 30th minute with a beautiful volley which stunned Bosso.
Highlanders responded quickly forcing three corners in succession in a desperate attempt to find an equaliser which proved elusive.
Moyo could have levelled matters on two occasions but his first attempt went wide and his second was blocked by Brian Mbiriri for a corner just before half time.
The second half started with Chicken Inn threatening to overrun Bosso and just two minutes after the resumption Canaan Nkomo tested Sibanda with a hard shot which missed the target.
A minute later Milton had his close range shot blocked by outstanding Nyoni who had a brilliant game for the Gamecocks.
In the 50th minute Njabulo Ncube found himself alone in the box but failed to control the ball after being set up by Moyo.
Tshuma who had a decent game in Bosso colours spotted Maphosa in the 54th minute with an intelligent pass but the latter shot wide after Bosso had surged forward in search of an equaliser.
Six minutes later Bosso won a freekick at the edge of the box after Heritein Masuku was brought down but Milton shot wide again.
In the 70th minute Ndoro who was put under lock and key by Innocent Mapuranga broke away but shot poorly at goal.
A minute later Mahachi could have scored his second with the Highlanders goalkeeper at his mercy but he missed the target.
Three minutes later Mahachi came back to haunt Bosso after he dribbled past his markers but watched in agony when his shot went out for a goal kick.
Bosso had every man in attack as they searched of an equaliser and Ozias Zibande who had come in for Njabulo Ncube had his flashing header easily dealt with by Nyoni.
Zibande almost grabbed the equaliser for Highlanders in the 89th minute but his glancing header was tipped over for a corner as Chicken Inn clung on to their one goal lead.
Referee Lindile Ndebele flashed six yellow cards to Bosso’s Mapuranga, Maphosa and Moyo and Chicken Inn’s Mahachi, Juru and Sibelo.
Highlanders coach Kelvin Kaindu said his boys played well but wasted numerous chances that fell their way.
‘‘We played well and created many chances which we however missed. Credit however goes to Chicken Inn’s goalkeeper who kept his team in the game. Now we are focusing on our next game,’’ said Kaindu.
He defended his substitutions saying it is a part of the game referring to the pulling out of Madzivanyika who had a fair game.
Chicken Inn coach Mandla Mpofu said it was a good result.
‘‘I am happy that we managed to collect the three points and now we are focusing on our next game against Shabanie Mine. It is important that we collect points from big teams,’’ said Mpofu.
Teams:
Highlanders: A Sibanda, B Tshuma, B Kangwa, D Ndlovu, I Mapuranga, H Madzivanyika (Eric Mudzingwa 50th minute), H Masuku (S Munawa 65th minute), M Ncube, P Moyo, M Maphosa, N Nyoni (O Zibande 75th minute)
Chicken Inn: N Nyoni, B Mbiriri, G Goddard, T Sibelo, F Chindungwe, D Phiri, T Ndoro, B Juru, C Nkomo, K Mahachi (L Mpofu 93 minutes), T Mukambi.
Log standings
P W D L F A Pts
Highlanders 14 9 2 3 25 12 29
Chicken Inn 14 8 2 4 19 14 26
Dynamos 14 6 7 1 20 9 25
Harare City 13 7 4 2 19 8 25
FC Platinum 14 6 5 3 19 12 23
Caps United 14 7 2 5 19 14 23
How Mine 13 6 2 5 15 15 20
Buffaloes 14 6 1 7 21 24 19
Black Mambas 14 6 1 7 15 19 19
Shabanie Mine14 5 2 7 13 19 17
Monomotapa 13 4 4 5 15 20 16
Hwange 14 3 5 6 10 15 14
Motor Action 14 3 4 7 12 19 13
Black Rhinos 14 3 4 7 15 24 13
Triangle 13 3 3 7 13 17 12
Tripple B 14 3 2 9 11 19 11
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