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Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
Highlanders……………………………………0 (1)
Hwange……………………………………………….0DOUGLAS Sibanda rose from the bench in the 65th minute to propel Highlanders to a much needed win over Hwange in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match played at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday.
Pint-sized Heritein Masuku struck in the 66th minute after Hwange goalkeeper Timothy Sibanda spilled a beautifully taken shot by Sibanda to jerk the Highlanders supporters off their seats.
The athletic Sibanda was introduced in the 65th minute for Mthulisi Maphosa who had a below par performance as he was always coming second best to the Hwange midfield that had Nkosana Siwela and Andrew Chuma outstanding.
“The win has come at the right time for us and it’s quite ironic that it came against Hwange because our last win was against the same team,” said an elated Highlanders coach Kelvin Kaindu in a post match interview.
Both teams started the match eager to find the opening goal but it was Bosso who nearly scored first in the 12th minute when Milton Ncube’s volley from outside the box hit the cross bar with Timothy rooted on his line.
Ten minutes later the home side were back asking questions through Masuku who missed by inches after being intelligently set up by influential skipper Innocent Mapuranga.
Mapuranga was a doubtful starter after he lost his brother in a car crash early last week.
In the 37th minute Beavan Chikaka’s tricky header off a Masuku cross went over the bar and it proved to be Chikaka’s last contribution as he was taken out injured in the 43rd minute and replaced by speed merchant Gabriel Nyoni.
Hwange coach, Nation Dube believed to have been given an ultimatum by his executive, brought in Maqhawe Mpofu for Tawanda Chando in an effort to find the opener, which was proving difficult to find as the Highlanders defence of skipper Mapuranga, Dumisani Fazo Ndlovu, Eric Mudzingwa and Bruce Tshuma was unyielding.
With Hwange enjoying the lion’s share of possession in midfield where Chuma shone like a beacon, Kaindu took out former Young Warriors forward Knox Mutizwa and introduced Bruce Kangwa who missed last week’s 1-1 draw with Chicken Inn.
However, goals kept on eluding Highlanders, who by then could have been sensing dropping another two points but that changed when Sibanda came on board for Maphosa.
While not playing fancy football, the former Gwanda Ramblers star took issues into his own hands and urged his teammates to up their game.
Barely a minute into the game, Sibanda found himself with an opportunity to take a shot at goal and did just that. Timothy was way off his line and as he dived to his left, he spilled the ball onto the path of an onrushing Masuku who had the easiest of task of slotting the ball home.
“We gave away a simply goal after having played so well,” said Hwange gaffer Dube.
Mlindeli Ndebele sent Hwange player Isaac Masame for an early shower following a crude tackle on forward Nyoni in the 70th minute.
With the win Highlanders moved to second position on the standings, three points behind Bigboy Mawiwi’s Harare City.
Teams:
Highlanders: A Sibanda, B Tshuma, I Mapuranga, D Ndlovu, E Mudzingwa, S Munawa, M Maphosa (D Sibanda 56th minute), M Ncube, H Masuku, K Mutizwa (B Kangwa 56th minute), B Chikaka (G Nyoni 43rd minute)
Hwange: T Sibanda, T Chando (M Mpofu 46th minute), G Ndlovu, D Boriwondo, A Chuma, M Mungaze, N Siwela, I Masame, G Zulu, E Rusike (T Chese 62nd minute), F Vimisayi
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