admin
Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
Highlanders 1-0 Buffaloes
HIGHLANDERS FC moved up to ninth position on the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League table, thanks to a late but well taken strike by skipper Obadiah Tarumbwa against relegation haunted Buffaloes at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday.
The soldiers though were unlucky to return to Mutare empty handed after holding Highlanders for most of the match only to lose concentration at a crucial time in the 90th minute.
With the match seemingly headed for a goalless draw, Tarumbwa reacted swiftly to a counter attack by Highlanders, which came moments after Ariel Sibanda, in goals for Highlanders, had made a crucial save in a one-on-one situation.
After missing a number of goal scoring chances with leading scorer and Soccer Star of the Year frontrunner Knox Mutizwa being the chief culprit, Highlanders gave head coach Amini Soma-Phiri his second win since being appointed on an interim basis.
It, however, needed the experience of veteran forward Tarumbwa, who picked his spot like a true general and slotted the ball into the far right, beating Buffaloes goalkeeper Blessing Mwandimutsira all systems out.
“It’s one of those rare goals. The boy didn’t shoot at goal but he passed the ball into the net,” said an elated Cosmas Zulu, the Highlanders’ technical director after the match.
Bosso should have gone ahead as early as the 14th minute, but Mutizwa’s slicing header off a well taken cross by man-of-the-match Valentine Ndaba missed the upright by inches.
Ndaba, who played a blinder, sold Philip Chandisaita a dummy near the corner flag before intelligently sending a cross that found an unmarked Mutizwa inside the box, but his rushed header missed the target.
There was no real action after that as play was punctuated by sporadic attacks from both sides, although veteran Prosper Matizanadzo was always a handful for the Highlanders’ central defence of Erick Mudzingwa and Tendai Ngulube.
In the 60th minute, Ndaba could have capped a brilliant day with a gem of a goal, but his blistering shot was punched back into play by Mwandimutsira and into the path of King Nadolo, who came on for winger Rahman Kutsanzira in the 50th minute.
Nadolo though chose to be economic with the ball as he tried to dribble past a Buffaloes defender instead of shooting straight back at goal.
“Sometimes the game of football is unfair, we had contained Highlanders and this celebrating ought to have been ours,” said a dejected Buffaloes gaffer Saul Chaminuka.
Zulu also bemoaned the number of missed chances.
“I nearly collapsed on the bench because of the missed chances. We were expecting a harvest of goals, but the boys didn’t come to the party,” said Zulu.
Teams
Highlanders: A Sibanda, P Muduhwa, T Ngulube, E Mudzingwa, R Kutsanzira (K Nadolo 50th min), N Masuku (S Munawa 72nd min), V Ndaba, R Matema (G Makaruse 80th min), B Kangwa, O Tarumbwa, K Mutizwa
Unused Subs: B Ncube, J Daudi, E Muzanhenamo, N Nyoni,
Buffaloes: B Mwandimutsira, P Chandisaita, K Mwaramba, S Nkata, K Chigwida, P Matizanadzo (P Thembani 84th min), T Jefrey, J Muzokomba, L Katongomara, J Jambo, F Banda (R Mwinga 75th min)
Unused Subs: H Madzivanyika, S Nyauzima, E Dzumbunu, C Tandadzayi, B Mushunje
Online Reporter