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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter—
Highlanders 1-0 Harare City
WAS it a cross? Did he mean it?
Highlanders fans debated long into the night, but the arguments were just a luxury afforded by Kudakwashe Mahachi’s fortuitously brilliant goal which sent them top of the Premier League table. After a dull opening half which amplified the chilly weather for the gathered partisans, Mahachi lit up Barbourfields with a second half winner which only he knows how it came about.
Swapping sides with Rahman Kutsanzira, left-footed Mahachi found himself on the right wing of the Highlanders attack shortly after the breather.
The on-loan Mamelodi Sundowns man raced past his marker as the Highlanders cavalry gathered in Nomore John’s penalty area.
Helped by the wind, Mahachi’s apparently miscued cross with his right foot deceived everyone — including John — as it nestled in at the back post.
Harare City coach Bigboy Mawiwi described it afterwards as a “wonder goal”, even as he indicted his goalkeeper for “lack of concentration”. He was too engrossed in his own team’s failings to engage in
debates about Mahachi’s intent.
“We played well and our game plan to contain Highlanders worked but lack of concentration by the goalkeeper cost us. It was a wonder goal that Highlanders got,” Mawiwi reflected after watching his men succumb to their seventh defeat in eight matches.
With questions over his job security, Mawiwi — only beaten to the Premier League crown by Dynamos last season on goal difference — displayed steely determination to put things right.
“Believe you me, we’re going to come back and win more matches,” he insisted, although he may not get the time.
In truth, City — who finished with 10 men after rightback Raymond Uchena saw red late on for chopping down Kutsanzira — held their own against Kelvin Kaindu’s title chasers.
“This was a difficult game because City were compact and their transition on the counter was really good,” conceded Kaindu’s number two, Mark Mathe, who was just happy with the three points.
Bosso’s usually dependable playmaker, Peter “Rio” Moyo, starting ahead of Welcome Ndiweni, failed to stamp his authority as he either dwelled too long on the ball or failed to see the runs of Milton Ncube and Ozias Zibande who both had a quiet afternoon ahead of him.
Six minutes into the game, City’s striker Martin Vengesayi was released by Talent Chawapihwa on the left, charged into the home team’s box and sent in a dangerous pass behind Bosso’s defence but William Manondo was a shade late to connect.
Poor finishing let down the Sunshine City Boys again in the 20th minute when Manondo skipped past Innocent Mapuranga, and with backtracking defenders Dumisani Ndlovu and Simon Munawa leaving space to run into, he blasted over with a rushed shot.
Highlanders’ first attempt at goal came from Kutsanzira eight minutes before the break when he dribbled past Tongai Chiworeso before trying to sneak a shot in the near post which John pushed for a corner.
Once Mahachi had thrust them ahead, Highlanders suddenly found more openings as City were forced to deploy more men forward.
Chrispen Dickson’s botched clearance fell into the path of second half substitute Charles Sibanda who did well to thread a pass to Zibande who, faced with the goalkeeper, allowed the ball to roll wide and away from John’s goal as City defenders scrambled to cover.
Mahachi also tried a long-range effort which stung John’s gloves but there were no takers for the rebound.
John then made a double save, denying Mudzingwa from a free kick and getting up quickly to block a goal-bound shot by Moyo.
City never gave up. With 10 minutes left before the end of the match, Felix Chindungwe — who had replaced the injured skipper Innocent Mapuranga in the second half — threw his body on the ground to block a Crybet Muvuti shot which would have tested Ariel Sibanda, who barely saw any action.
Teams
Highlanders: Ariel Sibanda, Simon Munawa, Bruce Kangwa, Dumisani Ndlovu, Innnocent Mapuranga (Felix Chindungwe 53rd minute), Eric Mudzingwa, Rahman Kutsanzira, Peter Moyo, Kudakwashe Mahachi, Ozias Zibande (Welcome Ndiweni 73rd minute), Milton Ncube (Charles Sibanda 73rd minute)
Harare City: Nomore John, Munyaradzi Nyenye Diro (Raymond Uchena 32nd minute), Tongai Chiworeso, Arnold Chiveya, Davis Kutyauripo, Crispen Dickson, Nathan Ziwini, James Jam, Martin Vengesai (Crybet Muvuti 59th minute), William Manondo, Talent Chawapihwa (Misheck Mburayi 61st minute)
Results at a glance
Tuesday: Bantu Rovers 2-1 Chicken Inn
Wednesday: How Mine 2-0 Caps United, Triangle United 5-1 Buffaloes, Chapungu 1-1 Hwange, Dynamos 1-0 FC Platinum, Black Rhinos 0-0 ZPC Kariba
Yesterday: Shabanie Mine 3-0 Chiredzi, Highlanders 1-0 Harare City
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