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Augustine Hwata Senior Sports Reporter
Motor Action………………………(1) 1
Highlanders………………………..(1) 1
THE championship race remains very wide open after Highlanders dropped points in this exciting duel against relegated Motor Action who deserve nomination for the Fifa Fair Play Award for their grand efforts in this Castle Lager Premiership tie at Rufaro yesterday. Bosso were left kicking themselves as a win could have seen them shooting to the top of the log after leaders Dynamos staggered to a draw at Gibbo while Harare City were held by Black Rhinos at Rimuka.
The Bulawayo giants still remain in the fight for the big prize.
But they could have made life easier for themselves with a victory over Motor Action.
The Mighty Bulls had to come from behind to rescue a point in a match in which the Mighty Bulls received the full backing of the Dynamos fans.
Master Masitara gave Highlanders the lead in the 15th minute when he slipped past Godrey Moyo to head in a corner kick, whipped in from the right.
But Motor Action refused to be intimidated and threw everything they had at Highlanders and their persistent probing finally paid off when Walter Musona struck what could a contender for the Goal of the Season.
The Mighty Bulls won a free kick outside the box and the Highlanders players made a wall inside the penalty area and Musona fired home a beauty from the dead ball, combining power and precision, as his effort flew past Munyaradzi Diya.
Shocked by the comeback Highlanders tried to restore the lead but their raids lacked the touch of a team that wants to be champions while Motor Action, playing without any pressure as their fate has already been sealed, were more adventurous.
In the 36th minute, Diya did well to come off his line to thwart Musona who wanted to run around him after beating Dumisani Ndlovu.
Bosso, who were blowing hot and cold, nearly took the lead in the 43rd minute when Milton Ncube turned and shot under a challenge but his effort went just over the bar.
Highlanders failed to stamp any authority in the game and it was relegated Mighty Bulls who seemed confident on the ball as the youthful Mighty Bulls attackers, led by Musona, were a constant threat.
The visitors maybe came short on the bench as they missed head coach Kelvin Kaindu who is in England for a coaching course while bustling striker Njabulo Nucbe was serving suspension for a red card picked in the encounter against Dynamos.
Highlanders will now be hoping to get positive results in the remaining matches against Triangle (home), Harare City (away) and Shabanie Mine (home) and pray that results elsewhere favour them.
Assistant coach Bekhi Ndlovu said his players paid dearly for taking a negative attitude into the game against a relegated team.
“The race is still on and we will fight in the next game, we scored first and should have defended our lead but we failed to do that,” said Ndlovu.
“Games are not all the same. We were prepared for this game but maybe the players took it lightly that Motor Action were relegated and that it was against small boys but in football there is no small team.
“The result today will teach our boys a lesson that there is no small team and we should play to our best every time.”
But while Bosso were mourning the two dropped points, Motor Action midfielder Clive Sibanda warned their opponents in the remaining games that they face a backlash from his team.
“We have been relegated but some of us joined this team during the second half when the damage had been done. I just want to prove a point that I can play and we are happy with the result. The team is going down but we have to market ourselves and get jobs for next season,” said Sibanda.
A former Ziscosteel player, Sibanda said Motor Action could have stunned their more illustrious rivals had they been accurate in front of goal.
“I think we did not utilise the chances we created, otherwise we could have beaten Bosso,” said Sibanda.
Teams
Motor Action : B. Benard, P. Benard, W. Musona (C. Dhuwa 87th min), G. Moyo (Kwaramba 57th min), W. Mutasa, S. Hadebe, C. Sibanda,D. Mwanza, R. Mandirega, D. Walaza, E. Tembo
Highlanders: M. Diya, B. Ncube (H. Masuku 55th min), P. Moyo (S. Munawa 65th min) B. Kwangwa, M. Mambare, M. Maphosa, M. Masitara (O. Zibande 78th min), I. Mapuranga, E. Mudzingwa, D. Ndlovu, M. Ncube
Online Reporter