Innocent Kurira at Barbourfields Stadium
HIGHLANDERS 0-1 Dynamos
DYNAMOS spoiled the Highlanders’ centenary party with a narrow 1-0 victory at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday, surviving a second-half fightback from the hosts to walk away with bragging rights in the Battle of Zimbabwe.
Highlanders started slowly and paid the price inside the opening five minutes when goalkeeper Aaron Ngwenya fumbled a high ball, allowing Dynamos striker Frank Agyemang to capitalise and give the visitors an early lead.
The goal unsettled Bosso, who struggled to find their rhythm during the opening stages, with their supporters growing increasingly frustrated as Dynamos threatened to add to their advantage.
However, Highlanders returned from the break a different side.
The hosts played with greater urgency and purpose, pushing Dynamos deeper and creating opportunities as they searched for the equaliser.
Bosso came close on several occasions, but they could not find the finishing touch required to breach the Dynamos defence.
Despite controlling large spells of the second half, Highlanders were unable to turn their pressure into a goal, allowing DeMbare to hold on for a memorable victory in a match that was watched by Vice-President Kembo Mohadi.
Highlanders coach Benjani Mwaruwari admitted his side made a poor start but felt their overall performance after the opening 20 minutes deserved more.
“We conceded a sloppy goal in the first five minutes and with football, sometimes you have to be ready for everything. In the first 20 minutes, we were very sloppy, we started very slowly, but from there we controlled the game with our chances, we dominated,” said Mwaruwari.
The former Warriors captain, however, rued his side’s continued struggles in front of goal.
“The unfortunate part, from the very beginning of the season until now, we haven’t been good at scoring. We couldn’t find the back of the net, we lost this one but we were supposed to win at home,” he said.
The defeat was a bitter pill to swallow for Bosso, who had hoped to crown their 100-year celebrations with victory over their biggest rivals.
“It’s our 100-year celebrations and it ended up going with Dynamos. But with football it’s a win, lose and draw and we have to go back to the drawing board and start all over again,” said Mwaruwari.
Highlanders will now have little time to dwell on the disappointment, with Mwaruwari already turning his attention to their next assignment against Manica Diamonds on Sunday.
“We need to go back and work hard and win that one,” he said.
For Dynamos, the victory provided the perfect ending to a fiercely contested centenary exhibition match, with the Glamour Boys holding firm to claim the spoils and silence the home crowd.
