adminThe Bulawayo giants failed to protect their 2-0 lead as they lost 2-3 to a deserving Monomotapa whose players’ fitness levels were far much better than that of their opponents.
It was clear that the week long strike by Highlanders players over outstanding winning bonuses had an impact as Bosso failed to match the industrious Monomotapa players who were always first to the ball in many instances.
Monomotapa players did not give their opponents any room compressing them in midfield with Ronald Chitiyo, who was voted man-of-the-match, anchorman Tendai Ngulube and Hillary Mugoniwa in sublime form. They won most midfield battles.
Another let down for Highlanders was players’ complacency after taking a 2-0 lead within the first 20 minutes.
“We scored two early goals but somewhere somehow we lost concentration as the players got tired in the second half,” said Highlanders’ coach Kelvin Kaindu.
Bhekimpilo Ncube scored a brace for Bosso notching his first goal in the 13th minute after getting to the end of a Mthulisi Maphosa pass. He doubled the scoreline in the 19th minute after being set up by Masimba Mambare.
Monomotapa did not throw in the towel as they took the game away from Highlanders and were duly rewarded a minute before halftime when Osborne Mukuradare pulled one back courtesy of a mistake by goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda and bad defending by Highlanders’ players.
Sibanda failed to cut a Chitiyo corner kick and all Bosso players were sluggish in defending the ball which was met by Mukuradare on the blind side.
The Harare side continued pressing Bosso after the break and they drew level in the 52nd minute courtesy of a well taken freekick by Russell Madamombe. Again, Sibanda was to blame for the goal as he punched the ball into his own net in an attempt to punch the ball away.
The Warriors goalkeeper should have used his fist to punch the thunderous curling shot instead of an open palm.
Monomotapa got the winning goal in the 84th minute when Mugoniwa’s volley from outside the box beat Sibanda all systems out.
What lacked in Bosso was someone to complement Mambare’s industry as he fought a lone battle in midfield.
Cleopas Dube, playing his first full game for Bosso, also tried to keep Monomotapa’s defence on their toes but was unlucky not to score. In the 89th minute he rose high to head a Milton Ncube cross from the left only to be denied by the woodwork.
Dube’s striking partner Ozias Zibande was just off the game as he chased shadows for the better part of the game and was eventually substituted in the 56th minute being replaced by Milton Ncube.
Young Zibande has failed to impress in all the matches he has started but remains a favourite of the coaches.
Monomotapa’s anchorman Ngulube is confident that they will lift the title.
“This cup is ours now and I don’t see any team stopping us. The fact that we beat a good Highlanders side which had taken the lead, shows that we can fight and that is what we are going to do,” said Ngulube.
Monomotapa will now face FC Platinum in the semi-finals with Dynamos taking on Caps United.
Online Reporter