adminHIGHLANDERS handed Chicken Inn their first home defeat in the league, coming from behind to win 2-1 in a tension-filled Castle Lager Premier Soccer League derby played at Luveve yesterday.
It was Chicken Inn’s second defeat of the season having lost 1-0 to Caps United at the beginning of the month.
The match had all the qualities of a derby with emotions running high in both the players and supporters.
Chicken Inn drew first blood courtesy of a 11th minute header by Thomas ‘Mahinya’ Chimenya who got to the end of a Frank ‘Skwila’ Mvula cross to beat Lovemore Makwawarara all systems. Makwavarara was rather a shade too slow. The Bulawayo giants also got their goals through headers by Innocent Mapuranga in the 22nd minute and industrious Erick Mudzingwa who got the winner seven minutes before half time.
Highlanders’ goals were a result of a defensive lapse on the part of Chicken Inn as they failed to cover the blind side while Makwavarara had misjudged a Chimenya header seemingly thinking that the ball will roll out for a goal kick.
Bosso coach Mkhuphali ‘Mr Cooper’ Masuku attributed the victory to hard work.
“A derby is always tricky but the boys played their hearts out and fought hard for the victory. We knew that for us to win we had to take a lead from the first half and I am glad we managed to get two goals.
“Even when we were down we managed to keep our composure and we were finally rewarded as they cracked at the back. I will also want to thank the supporters for rallying behind the team and hopefully they will come in numbers in our next home game,” said Masuku.
His Chicken Inn counterpart Philani ‘Beefy’ Ncube praised his boys for their performance despite the defeat.
“Referees’ mistakes are very costly but they are humans and cannot be perfect.
“I am not taking anything away from Highlanders as they gave us a good run for our money but I feel the man at the centre made some decisions that cost us dearly.
“We also had to make a forced substitution of Frank (Mvula) after he was hit by a missile before the resumption of the second half.
That incident had an effect on our game plan but that is football, you win some and lose some,” said Ncube.
Ncube was refereeing to an incident that led to the second half being delayed by over 25 minutes due to injury of Chicken Inn’s players – Mvula and Liberty Chirava – who were hit by missiles before the start of the second half.
The fans threw missiles at Chicken Inn’s players after Hebert Dick and skipper Sikhumbuzo ‘China’ Banda had manhandled a Highlanders marshal who had found his way into the field of play. However Chicken Inn goalkeeper Chirava, a marvel to many since the beginning of the season, went with a flying header in an effort to clear a missile that had been thrown into the field of play by irate supporters who were protesting over a Dick mancho man behaviour against the marshal who was trying to cool down some overzealous Bosso fans.
The players accused the marshal of trying to throw juju at the field.
Mvula, who initially walked off the filed without being aided, had to be rushed to hospital.
The match had started on a cracker pace with both sides sizing up each other’s strength with build-ups from the midfield.
Bosso’s Bruce Tshuma brought down Heritein Mauku on the left and Mvula took the free kick, which Chimenya headed past Makwawarara to register the first goal of the afternoon.
In the 23rd minute Nkomo ventured upfront and set up Nzombe who was beaten to the ball by a steady Dick who conceded a corner.
Lunga sent in a curler that Mapuranga headed from the blind side to equalize for Bosso and send Highlanders’ fans into frenzy.
Mbiriri’s 30th minute free kick did not bother Makwawarara from the edge of the box.
Chicken Inn nearly got Bosso on a counter attack in the 34th minute after Gilbert Banda lost possession at the centre to Canaan Nkomo who quickly sent a cross to Danny Phiri whose weak shot was easily clutched by Makwavarara.
From then on, both teams started to play long balls and Highlanders won a free kick on the right which Lawson took and Mudzingwa headed from the blind side.
After the break Ncube introduced Daniel Zokoto, Guide Goddard and Morris Kadzola but Highlanders held on to their lead.
Nkomo almost killed off the game in injury time but the woodwork denied him the goal after his blistering effort had beat the Nokel Goalkeeper of the Month Chirava all systems out.
Teams
Chicken Inn: L Chirava, H Dick, S Banda, B Mbiriri, F Mvula (M Kadzola 46th minute), F Chindungwe, H Masuku, C Nkomo, D Phiri (G Goddard 70th minute), X Moyo (D Zokoto 46th minute) T Chimenya
Highlanders: L Makwawarara, L Nkomo, G Banda, I Mapuranga, B Tshuma, A Tshuma, E Mudzingwa, G Lunga L Matawu (B Ndlovu 79th minute), M Mburayi, V Nzombe
Online Reporter