Bulls frustrate Bosso

Harare Bureau
Motor Action…………………..(1) 1
Highlanders……………………(1) 1
THE Premiership championship race remains very wide open after title chasing Highlanders were held to a draw by relegated Motor Action in an exciting Castle Lager Premiership tie at Rufaro yesterday. Bosso were left kicking themselves as a win would have seen them shoot to the top of the log after log leaders Dynamos puffed and groaned to a draw at Gibbo while Harare City were restricted by Black Rhinos at Rimuka.

The Bulawayo giants still remain in the dog-fight but they could have made life easier for themselves with a victory over Motor Action, who had to come from behind to rescue a point as they were backed by a Dynamos crowd.

Master Masitara gave Highlanders the lead in the 15th minute when he slipped past Godfrey Moyo to head in a corner kick, whipped from the right.

But Motor Action refused to be intimidated and threw everything they had at Highlanders and their persistent probing finally paid off when Walter Musona, struck what could be a contender for the goal of the season from Rufaro this year.

The Mighty Bulls won a free kick outside the box and the Highlanders players made a wall inside the 18-area  as Musona stepped behind to execute the ball,  with both power and precision as it curled past Munyaradzi Diya.

Shocked by the comeback Highlanders tried to restore the lead but were rather lame in their raids while Motor Action, playing without any pressure as their fate has already been sealed, were more adventurous.

In the 36th minute, Diya did well to come off of his line to thwart Musona who wanted to round him off after beating Dumisani Ndlovu while the Mighty Bulls could have taken the lead a minute later when Scholar Hadebe simulated but earned a free kick, in a promising position.

Bosso, who were blowing hot and cold nearly, took the lead in the 43rd minute when Milton Ncube turned and shot under a challenge from Moyo but his effort went just over the bar.

Highlanders failed to stamp any authority in the game and it was relegated Mighty Bulls who seemed confident on the ball as the youthful Motor Action attackers, led by Musona were a constant threat to the Bosso rearguard. The visitors maybe came short on technical capabilities on the bench as they missed head coach Kelvin Kaindu who is in England for studies while bustling striker Njabulo Nucbe was serving suspension for a red card picked in the encounter against Dynamos. Highlanders will now be hoping to get positive results in the remaining matches against Triangle (home), Harare City (away) and Shabanie Mine (home) and pray that results elsewhere favour them.

Assistant coach Beki Ndlovu said his players paid dearly for taking a negative attitude into the game against a relegated team.“The race is still on and we will fight in the next game, we scored first and should have defended our lead but we failed to do that,” said Ndlovu.
Ndlovu believes that Highlanders could bounce back to winning ways if they plug some loopholes in their play.

“Games are not all the same. We were prepared for this game but maybe the players took it lightly as Motor Action are relegated and that it was against small boys but in football there is no small team.

“The result today will teach our boys a lesson that there is no small team and we should play to our best every time,” said Ndlovu.
While Bosso were crying over the two points dropped, Motor Action midfielder Clive Sibanda warned their opponents in the remaining games of the proverbial last kicks of a dying horse.