adminshare the spoils with Chicken Inn a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Barbourfields yesterday.
The incident lit up the boring city derby.
Malandule adjudged that Chicken Inn’s rightback Morris Kadzola had pulled down Eric Mudzingwa in the box as the two players tussled for an aerial ball.
Surprisingly, the Bulawayo based referee did not even caution Kadzola.
Up stepped Highlanders’ forward Graham Ncube who sent Chicken Inn’s goalkeeper Njabulo Nyoni the wrong way to give his side the lead.
The goal seemed to have awakened Chicken Inn, who felt aggrieved by the referee’s penalty call, as their coach Philani ‘Beefy’ Ncube reacted swiftly by making a tactical substitution, pulling out Tendai Ndoro for Thomas Chimenya.
The move seemed to pay off as Chicken Inn, led by Canaan Nkomo, began tearing apart Highlanders’ midfield.
And they were duly rewarded in the 76th minute when Chimenya’s shot was punched into play by Ariel Sibanda and Bosso defenders failed to clear the ball.
Danny Phiri reacted quickly to poke the ball into the nets.
Chicken Inn gaffer Ncube was not amused by Malandule’s officiating.
Malandule was also heavily criticised for his officiating in the abandoned BancABC Sup8r Cup semi-final between Highlanders and Dynamos at Barbourfields last year.
“It is unfortunate that the referee had to decide the outcome of the game,” said Ncube.
“We do not want to complain about match officials but it’s one of those things in football and we forgive him because referees are people and make mistakes.”
Teams
Highlanders
A Sibanda, L Nkomo, G Banda, I Mapuranga, B Tshuma, S Munawa, R Kutsanzira, E Mudzingwa (B Kangwa 83rd min), L Matawu, G Ncube (M Mburayi 74th min, K Mtizwa 90th min), V Nzombe
Chicken Inn
N Nyoni, M Kadzola, G Majoni, H Dick, S Banda, F Chindungwe, H Masuku, C Nkomo, E Chikwayikwayi, D Phiri, T Ndoro (T Chimenya 58th min).
The match had started at a slow pace and the major first half highlight came in the 39th minute when Highlanders’ Louis Matawu dribbled past Gilbert Majoni, charged towards the box before letting a powerful volley which Nyoni punched into play.
Sikhumbuzo Banda reacted quickly to clear the ball for safety.
A minute later Simon Munawa’s curler missed the target by inches but Nyoni willl argue that he had his goal covered.
After the breather both sides took their game a gear up and Vincent Nzombe was unlucky when a well placed Nyoni saved his shot in the 51st minute.
Two minutes later, Malandule surprised all and sundry when he awarded a Bosso what appeared to be a dubious penalty and Ncube made no mistake.
He could have scored his second of the day in the 67th minute when he beat an offside trap but was closed in by Sikhumbuzo, forcing the Bosso forward to lose possession.
Nkomo also tried his luck from afar in the 70th minute but his effort was easily saved by Sibanda.
Chicken Inn’s patience finally paid off in the 76th minute when Nkomo played a through ball to Chimenya who shrugged off the challenge from Highlanders’ captain Gilbert Banda before unleashing a volley that was punched into play.
Phiri reacted swiftly to equalise for his team from a rebound.
Highlanders’ coach Mkhuphali Masuku, who had introduced Misheck Mburayi in the 74th minute for Ncube, then pulled out his substitute for young Knox Mtizwa in the 90th minute.
He defended his decision and said Mburayi failed to make his presence felt in the game.
“Mburayi was out of the game that is why I pulled him out.
“As for the result, we didn’t play well but a derby is always difficult and getting a point is good for us.
“They (Chicken Inn) got what they wanted,” said Masuku.
Online Reporter