Green Machine runs over Bosso into Chibuku Semis

Highlanders 2-2 CAPS United

CAPS United won 5-3 on penalties

THE result of the Highlanders-CAPS United Chibuku Super Cup quarter final match in Bulawayo yesterday highlights how some big teams never learn from their mistakes.

Here was a match that put two “bulls in a kraal” whose stature and magnitude, when they clash, is always known as the Battle of the Cities.

This time, at the Chibuku Super Cup quarter final game at Barbourfields Stadium, nothing was short of excitement.

The coaches from both sides said it plainly that the cup game was unpredictable yet so needed to conclude victoriously.

It was a match that belonged to no one and bragging rights were all for the taking.

Highlanders coach Baltemar Brito’s reaction was of a man whose bruised effort was to repair after some days.

“It was a good game, but, I think in the second half we lost it,” said Brito.

He spoke well of his players’ ability to maintain possession for the good part of the match. He, however, made reference to the sluggish show that came up in the third end of the field that his strikers failed.

With teams separated after the penalty lottery, Brito was frank to say his team had to work on that tact.

Soft and plain in his toungue, Brito had a word or two for his boys, for he did not expect to lose it that way.

As was the norm for a winning coach, Lloyd Chitembwe beamed.

“It was a good game. Both teams had the opportunities and luckily we used those opportunities to work in our favour,” said Chitembwe.

The home side was the better of the battle, having recovered and made it 2-2, yet to go down, in the penalty shootout.

That 5-3 win by CAPS United proved who rules the roost between the teams. For now, Makepekepe are destined to be the Cup Kings, yet again.

In that penalty lottery Bosso forward Lynoth Chikuhwa missed the only spot kick as the Bulawayo giants were sipped out of the Chibuku Super Cup.

The teams had played to a two all draw in regulation time.

The Green Machine started off the game on the front foot and got their two goals in the first half through Clive Rupiya who headed home a Rodwell Chinyengetere corner kick in the 35th minute. Joseph Tulani doubled the lead for Makepekepe with a header inside the box off a Erick Manokore free-kick.

Bosso got their act together in the second half and pulled one back through captain of the day Mbongeni Ndlovu.

Better known as Mbola, Ndlovu, slotted home from close range following an Andrew Mbeba free-kick nine minutes after the break.

As if that was not enough, Mbeba would level matters through a well taken free-kick just outside the box in the 62nd minute.

In the penalty shootout CAPS United converted all theirs through Devon Chafa, Manokore, Ian Nyoni, Chinyengetere and Hastings Chapusha. Mbeba, Melikhaya Ncube and Mason Mushore got their shots on target with Chikuhwa, who took the second spotkick, missing.

Teams:

Highlanders: R Pitisi (gk), R Lunga (A Kutsanzira, 70 mins), M Mushore, A Mbeba, E Farasi (L.Chikuhwa 46 mins), M Mushore, P Muduhwa, A Faira, M Ndlovu, W Navaya, M Ncube

Caps United: T Mateyaunga (A Reynars, 90 mins), E Manokore, I Zambezi, H Chapusha, L Manganyira, D Chafa, B Sarupinda (C Sithole, 79 mins), J Tulani, P Bamusi, C Rupiya (I Nyoni, 90 mins), R Chinyengetere