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Sports Reporter
Buffaloes……………..(0) 1
Highlanders…………(0) 1HIGHLANDERS secured a late equaliser to escape from the jaws of defeat at the hands of Buffaloes in an exhilarating Castle Lager Premiership match at Sakubva Stadium yesterday.
Yesterday’s match started at an electric pace with the two teams exchanging good passes but somehow both failed to convert the clear-cut scoring chances that came their way.
Just five minutes into the match, Highlanders’ Simon Munawa had some fine exchanges with Njabulo Ncube which culminated in Ncube sending a fine cross that found no takers for Bosso.
Two minutes later, Bosso were back to torment their hosts but lack of communication between a well positioned Ncube and Gabriel Nyoni resulted in Nyoni making a mess of a fine cross from exciting Mthulisi Maphosa.
In fact, on a number of occasions, Highlanders could have found the target but an out-of-sorts Nyoni, who spent the greater part of the afternoon chasing shadows but somehow lasted the entire match, was to blame for frequently misfiring.
The home team also had its moments and came close in the 27th minute when Jacob Muzvokomba’s screamer from the edge of the box hit the crossbar with Highlanders goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya already beaten.
However, just a minute after the break, Bosso captain Eric Mudzingwa clumsily hacked down goalbound Wonder Sithole and referee Ruzive Ruzive, who had a good game rightly pointed to the spot.
Up stepped Steven “Dealer” Sibanda who made no mistake as he propelled the Mutare soldiers into the lead. Buffaloes, who seemed to have upped the tempo after the breather continued to harass the Highlanders backline.
Muzvokomba almost added his name onto the scoresheet but his flashing header in the 60th minute was parried over the crossbar by Diya.
At some point Buffaloes appeared on course for victory but had their hopes thrown into disarray, thanks to Buffaloes’ striker Lloyd Katongomara’s own goal with only two minutes of regulation time remaining.
On that occasion, with all 11 players in the goal area, Buffaloes paid the price for crowding the box which resulted in the confusion and in the process Katongomara scored for the opponents.
Highlanders’ failure to effectively use set pieces also denied them a chance to score more goals with dreadlocked Lawson Nkoma blasting his effort wide of target on more than two occasions.
Buffaloes coach Timoth “Sicho” Masachi, who was evidently devastated, said his team deserved to win but paid dearly for their lapse in concentration.
“I think we really deserved to win this match. We were the better team of the two and it was only that lack of concentration in the last two minutes that cost us. It is part of the game of football. We are already looking ahead to next weekend when we meet them in a different competition,” said Masachi.
His opposite number, Kelvin Kaindu blamed the state of the pitch for his team’s failure to play their usual game.
“It was quite a good game. It was exciting but I must say that the state of the pitch is deplorable, to say the least.
“I think Buffaloes should do something about it. We could hardly play our usual passing game because of the state of the pitch.
“Nonetheless, I am happy that when we conceded a goal my boys did not lose heart. We continued to fight and we got the point we wanted,” said Kaindu.
Teams
Buffaloes: B Mandimutsira, P Chandisaita, B Mukwena, S Nyauzima, T Ndlovu, P Matizanadzo, S Nkata, W Sithole (K Zhokinyu 75th minute), J Muzvokomba (L Katongomara 65th minute), S Sibanda, P Thembani
Highlanders: M Diya, L Nkomo, B Kangwa, E Mudzingwa, D Ndlovu, H Madzivanyika, S Munawa, M Ncube (T Chipunza 51st minute), M Maphosa (H Masuku 51st minute), N Ncube (O Zibande 65th minute), G Nyoni
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