Online Reporter
Innocent Kurira at Barbourfields Stadium
Highlanders 1-0 Bikita Minerals
HIGHLANDERS go into the halftime break enjoying a narrow 1-0 lead courtesy of a Brighton Ncube strike in what has been an action-packed first half at Barbourfields Stadium.
Ncube curled his effort into the back of the net from inside the box in the 19th minute to give Bosso the lead.
Both teams have had a fair share of chances, but it is Highlanders who take the advantage into the break.
The home side started brightly and nearly took the lead as early as the 7th minute following a brilliant interchange of play inside the box, but they failed to capitalise.
In the 16th minute, Highlanders came even closer when Marvin Sibanda’s free-kick was punched back into play by Bikita Minerals goalkeeper Tenera Taona. The rebound fell kindly for Ncube, who set up Reason Sibanda with a clever pass, only for Sibanda’s effort to rattle the woodwork.
Moments later, Never Rauzhi laid off a neat pass to Reason Sibanda inside the box, but the midfielder failed to find the target, shooting wide.
Bosso were awarded another promising free-kick in the 23rd minute. Marvin Sibanda took responsibility once again but blazed his effort over the bar.
Bikita Minerals, despite trailing, have had their own moments. In the 27th minute, a brilliant passage of play opened up space for Tadiwanashe Musariramwa to break through on goal, but he was unable to beat Highlanders goalkeeper Reward Muza in a one-on-one situation.
Shortly after, Musariramwa turned provider from a corner kick, delivering a pinpoint cross that found Tadiwanashe Nyakope, whose powerful header was superbly saved by Muza.
The visitors squandered yet another clear-cut chance when Nyakope, unmarked inside the box and on the end of a
Spencer Mugariri pass, fired wide with only the goalkeeper to beat.
Highlanders will feel they should have extended their lead given the number of chances created, while Bikita Minerals will head into the second half knowing they must be more clinical in front of goal.
