adminA 33rd MINUTE goal by impressive Graham Ncube was all Highlanders needed to accomplish their revenge over Chipangano in a lively Castle Lager Premier Soccer league match before a packed Colliery Stadium yesterday.
The stubborn coalminers stunned the black and white masses with 1-0 win at Barbourfields Stadium in the reverse fixture, courtesy of a Kennedy Kashema goal, but the Mkhupali Masuku-coached Bulawayo giants had a different tonic for the coal miners yesterday.
A rare lapse in concentration by the usually reliable defence of Zambian import Aaron Katebe allowed a cross from yesterday’s man-of-the-match Rahman Kutsanzira to fall to a well positioned Ncube who obliged
by powering a grounder past a diving Timothy Sibanda into the back of the nets.
It was a soft goal that left Hwange team manager Tennant Chilumba bemoaning the way his lads were punished.
“The boys let in a silly goal in the game besides not having played to instructions and we are going to try to work on the mistakes.
“Against Dynamos it was a similar case of conceding a soft goal and we need to guard against that in the next games,” said Chilumba.
Masuku was on happy and praised his team for working hard.
“It was a tough game and the boys played extremely well.
“Our game plan was to win every ball and I am pleased we did just that and I want to also thank the supporters who travelled all the way from Bulawayo to cheer up the boys.” he said.
It was clear from onset that Bosso were in the coal mining town for real business when Graham Ncube got the better of Hwange anchorman Andrew Tshuma in the hosts half only to direct a speculative effort to the birds.
The coalminers knocked on the Bosso door in the 3rd minute when lanky defender Munyaradzi Mungadze’s curling free kick from the edge of the box found Arial Sibanda alert.
After ten minutes Hwange defender Katebe almost gifted Highlanders a goal when he miscued his effort to goalkeeper Sibanda resulting in Vincent Nzombe failing to punish a drawn out Sibanda which a chip which flew over the bar.
The visitors then raised their game as they immediately returned to haunt Hwange moments later but midfielder Simon Munawa shot way off target from close range.
Then came the best chance of the day which fell to striker Gilbert Zulu in the 18th minute when he got the better of Bosso captain Gilbert Banda on the edge of the box only for him to take long to stab home and allow the defender to recover and make a brave tackle. In the 22nd minute Nzombe could not exorcise the ghost of missing chances when he came at the end of a lovely move involving Graham Ncube, Rahman
Kutsanzira and Gift Lunga but Siwela had missed a glorious opportunity on the half hour mark before Ncube scored the all important goal which left Highlanders in a delirium.
Siwela again could not breach the halftime whistle with an equalizer when he shot off mark after being cleverly fed by Rodwell Chinyengetere.
Three minutes after the breather Nzombe’s script of misses was written in bold ink when he blew a golden chance for Bosso to double their lead by directing his volley off target from close range.
Hwange continued to fight for an equaliser but some resolute defending by the Highlander defences and coupled Chipangano’s needless hurrying of shots from range was their undoing.
Yesterday’s man of the match Rahman Kutsanzira was presented with a Castle Lager shirt by the sponsors’ representative after the game.
Yesterday’s electrifying game was graced by Mines and Mining Development Obert Mpofu who donated US$2 500 to each team after the match as part of motivation for the players.
Teams:
Hwange
T Sibanda, M Chipunza (T Sibelo80th min),G Ndhlovu, A Katebe, M Mungadze, A Tshuma, N Siwela (S Mamwere85th min), W Muhango, K Kashema(F Zekumbawire63th min),G Zulu, R Chinyengetere.
Highlanders
A Sibanda, G Lunga (B Kangwa63th min),G Ncube (B Ndlovu85thmin),L Nkomo, V Nzombe, B Tshuma, G Banda, R Kutsanzira, I Mapuranga, L Matawu, S Munawa.
Online Reporter