Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi-Zimpapers Sports Hub
CAPS Utd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 4
Highlanders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 2
CAPS United chose the big stage to remind their opponents of their quality with a second-half blitz that earned them a deserved double against old rivals Highlanders in a Castle Lager Premiership match at Rufaro yesterday.
Despite turning out flat in the first 45 minutes, the Green Machine were full value for their money when they returned from the breather as they disarmed Bosso in a thrilling six-goal second half.
Half-time substitute Tinotenda Meke opened the floodgates out of nothing soon after the breather, before completing a double late on.
In between Meke’s brilliance, goals from expats Chris Mugalu and Uchizi Vunga reinforced Makepekepe’s lead, although Bosso hit back twice from the penalty courtesy of Benjamin Adeogun and substitute Isaac Ngoma.
Bosso lined up without two key players, Andrew Mbeba, who failed a fitness test, and the suspended Nomore Chinyerere, but they controlled the game from the onset, with midfielder Mongameli Tshuma giving problems to the home side’s defenders.
They tested the Green Machine goalkeeper Washington Arubi midway through the first half when Tshuma found Adeogun with a pin-point defence-splitting pass.
The Nigerian responded with a low shot that was blocked by goalkeeper Washington Arubi, before the CAPS United defenders recovered to clear their lines.
But that was all to write home about in this first half, which lacked clear-cut chances from both sides, with the hosts chasing the ball for most of the period.
However, in a game of this magnitude, small margins do matter, and Bosso learnt the hard way just seconds after the restart.
Defender Mvelo Khoza appeared to have the situation under control when an aerial ball was flighted over the defence line.
A routine header back to the goalkeeper could have saved the moment, but the fullback could not read the flight of the ball well.
Khoza made a mess of the situation when he miscued a header into the path of Meke, who gladly pounced on the chance and blasted the ball over goalkeeper Aaron Ngwenya, to put Makepekepe ahead with his first touch seconds after the second half restart.
The goal opened up the game. But before Bosso could find a response, Makepekepe doubled their lead via Malawian Vunga, who put on a blinder of a show in the midfield. Vunga took his chance in the 56th minute with a low shot into the bottom corner after Alleny Mukombedzi had found the gap and placed the ball behind the bungling Bosso rear-guard.
It turned out to be a good day in the office for Makepekepe, who bounced back in style from disappointing back-to-back defeats to relegation candidates FC Hunters and TelOne.
Mukombedzi, who recently returned from injury, proved his value in Takesure Chiragwi’s team when he turned the provider again, thanks to another defensive blip from Bosso, when he found Mugalu just inside the box.
The Congolese forward did not make a mistake to treble the hosts’ lead in the 64th minute.
But Bosso did not give up the fight. They found a lifeline when Tshuma, who has always been a handful to defenders, was brought down inside the box, and the referee pointed to the spot.
Adeogun converted to release the pressure a bit. With 20 more minutes remaining on the clock, there was still hope for Bosso.
Soon, Highlanders made a strong appeal for a penalty after defender Precious Phiri handled the ball inside the box, but the referee waved play on.
CAPS United restored their three-goal lead in brilliant fashion with second-half substitutes Junior Bunjira, Obriel Chirinda, and goal scorer Meke combining well in the 85th minute.
With energy levels still high, Bunjira made a brilliant run down the right channel and sent in a low cross into the box. Chirinda then dazzled the Bosso defence with a clever dummy to set up Meke, who then rounded off the goalkeeper and fired hard past sprawling defenders.
It was 4-1, with five minutes left in regulation time. But there was still ample time for Bosso to get another consolation, again with CAPS United defenders guilty of clumsy marking on Tshuma at the by-line.
Substitute Ngoma sent Arubi the wrong way in added time. However, CAPS United coach Takesure Chiragwi was still impressed by his side’s performance after completing the double over Bosso.
CAPS United collected all six points between the two sides following the 2-1 win at Barbourfields back in April. Chiragwi acknowledged his side’s shortcomings yesterday.
“We didn’t play well first half. I think we had a lot of shortcomings in everything, all aspects of the game.
“We were second on the ball, ball rotation wasn’t there, and even our pressing wasn’t good enough. But the good thing that we did is not to concede a goal. So that maybe we have an advantage through the half-time break to also try to reorganise,” said Chiragwi.
“But we tried to have more pace going forward, and that’s why we brought in Tino Tenotenda Meke. And I think it played very well in terms of the energy, speed, and also the individual skill. And we managed to get an early goal in the second half.
“That also gave us an advantage because Highlanders were also good in terms of defending in their shape. But the moment we get a goal, they will now open up the game. And it was easy for us in terms of transition.” CAPS United increased their points tally to 42 points, although they remained sixth on the log standings. Bosso also remained unchanged on seveth place with 39 points.
Their coach, Benjani Mwaruwari, was not happy with the way they ceded control of the game in the second half and the defensive blunders that proved fatal.
“When you hear that we conceded four goals, it would be like we didn’t play better. Sometimes it happens because when you concede those two soft goals, we look disjointed.
“From there, we never recovered. Even though we came back with some special moments, and we didn’t use our chance, and they used their chances well, even though we gave them two or three soft goals.
“But overall, the team spirit is still high. I love how they were coming back, even if they were scored and we were three-nil down, but they kept on fighting. It shows that we are a team. We need to go back and regroup and come back again,” said Mwaruwari.
Teams:
CAPS Utd: Washington Arubi, Nyasha Gurende, Precious Phiri, Lloyd Njaliwa, Kudzai Chigwida, Tanaka Shandirwa (Malcom Banisi, Bruce Kangwa (Talent Chamboko, 67th min), Alleny Mukombedzi (Junior Bunjira, 77th min), Chawanangwa Kaonga , Uchizi Vunga, Chris Mugalu (Obriel Chirinda, 77th min)
Highlanders: Aron Ngwenya, Lawrence Mhlanga, Mvelo Khoza (Prince Ndlovu, 74th min, Isaac Ngoma, 82nd min), Mongameli Tshuma, Reason Sibanda (Royn Nyamono, 57th min), Kudakwashe Mahachi, Rainsome Pavari, Tawanda Shenje, Never Rauzhi (Shelton Moyo, 82nd min), Darlington Munkuli (Marvin Sibanda, 69th min), Benjamin Adeogun.
