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Ricky Zililo in Bulawayo
Highlanders…………(1) 2
Monomotapa…………0BULAWAYO soccer giants Highlanders are now a point behind log leaders and old enemies Dynamos following their Castle Lager Premiership win against Monomotapa at Barbourfields yesterday.
A goal in each half by Bruce Kangwa and Gabriel Nyoni saw Highlanders taking their points tally to 37 after 20 matches.
Kangwa, arguably the best player at Highlanders this season, showed sheer individual brilliance in the 38th minute when he started a move just after the half way, exchanged passes with Milton Ncube, made his way past four Monomotapa players before unleashing a thunderous shot in the box that beat the visitors’ goalkeeper Fideus Chifamba.
Nyoni, making his first start since joining Highlanders during the mid-season transfer-window, scored his first goal for the Bulawayo giants in the 76th minute after getting to the end of a clever chip by Ncube having beaten Monomotapa’s offside trap to head the ball past Chifamba.
Overwhelmed by emotions after scoring, the Highlanders striker made a high school celebration removing his shorts and running for at least 50m showing off his black and white boxer short which matched his jersey.
Nyoni’s celebrations earned him a yellow card from referee Allan Bhasvi. Highlanders’ victory eased growing pressure following their dip in form which had seen Bosso only managing five points out of a possible 12 in their last four outings.
Bosso’s only win in those four matches was a 1-0 victory over Hwange in Bulawayo. They had played to draws with CAPS United and Chicken Inn and Black Mambas.
Their Zambian coach Kelvin Kaindu was happy with his team’s result but was quick to point out that they have to work on their finishing.
The Bosso coach said the victory puts them back in championship contention.
“It’s good that we picked maximum points but I am also worried that we are not turning our chances in. We created so many scoring opportunities which is good and we are going to work hard to make sure that we improve our finishing.
“Today we changed the system, playing with one striker because we had become predictable and the move paid off.
“There are a number of matches left before the season ends and there are 30 points to play for and trailing by a point, I think we are still in the championship race,” Kaindu said.
Both teams created a number of scoring opportunities which they did not convert. Monomotapa should have taken the lead in the seventh minute when hard running Kuda Musharu dispossessed Kangwa of the ball, threaded a pass to Ronald Chitiyo, who put in too much power while trying to lob the ball over Highlanders’ goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya and the ball went over.
Highlanders’ first scoring chance of the game fell to Masimba Mambare, who benefited from a long pass from Mthulisi Maphosa and the former turned his marker Hillary Mugoniwa but missed the far post by inches.
After that, Highlanders began playing some entertaining football with their midfielders Peter “Rio” Moyo, Ncube, Maphosa and Simon Munawa making good build-ups but still Mambare failed to convert, hitting the side net.
In the 24th minute, Munawa’s header off a Nkomo cross was easily saved by Chifamba. Monomotapa always looked dangerous whenever Musharu was in possession but striker Allan Tavarwisa and Chitiyo were always kept under lock and key by Highlanders’ defence, making it difficult to make attempts at goal.
Seven minutes before half time, Kangwa’s magic paid off when he ventured upfront, dodged tackles as he dribbled past four Monomotapa players to enter the box with the final straw for the visitors being a clearance deflecting off his feet before letting off a ferocious drive past Chifamba to give the home team the lead.
Two minutes later Highlanders’ pint-sized midfielder Moyo watched in agony when his shot from the edge of the box hit the upright.
Monomotapa coach Biggie Zuze pulled out former national team player Nicholas Guyo soon after the break for Ishmael Lawe and the move seemed to pay dividends as the visitors continued with their dominance in midfield, but still they could not get the much needed goal.
However, it was Highlanders who came up with clear-cut scoring chances with Mambare missing twice after being sent through by Nyoni and Moyo in the 49th and 54th minutes.
Chikaka also missed a good chance a minute before the hour mark with the goal yawning. Then a minute later Nyoni tried to squeeze the ball at the near post after dribbling past Monomotapa defender Morgan Mungombe but side-netted his effort.
A lapse in concentration by the visitors and telepathic play by Ncube and Nyoni resulted in the former heading home a cushioning goal for Highlanders in the 76th minute.
Monomotapa tried to get a face-saver with second half substitutes Lawe and Nelson Meson leading the search.
Zuze blamed poor finishing for their defeat.
“We played very well but the problem was our poor finishing. The good thing is that we are creating those scoring chances and maybe Lady Luck has eluded us of late but I am sure we will get better.
“I think if we had managed to get a goal, things would have been different but again, our defence has let us down.
“It’s unfortunate that young Lawrence Mhlanga, who we signed from Chicken Inn during the mid-season window got injured and we have lost that stability which he had brought,” said Zuze.
Teams:
Highlanders: Munyaradzi Diya, Innocent Mapuranga, Dumisani Ndlovu, Lawson Nkomo, Bruce Kangwa, Mthulisi Maphosa, Peter Moyo (Beaven Chikaka 56th minute), Simon Munawa, Milton Ncube, Masimba Mambare (Heritein Masuku 71st minute), Gabriel Nyoni (Bhekimpilo Ncube 84th minute)
Monomotapa: Fideus Chifamba, Nicholas Guyo (Ishmael Wadi 48th minute), Morgan Mungombe, Charles Rukwanhi, Allen Tavarwisa (IsHmael Lawe 71st minute), Ronald Chitiyo, Obey Mwerahari, Last Sithole, Hillary Mugoniwa, Kuda Musharu, Clive Boroma (Nelson Meson 81st minute).
Online Reporter