adminRicky Zililo in BULAWAYO
Highlanders . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 1
Mutare City Rovers . . . . . . . (0) 2
RELEGATION-threatened Mutare City Rovers turned on a disciplined show to defeat Highlanders at Barbourfields yesterday in what of the biggest shock results in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League programme this year.The Premiership newboys scored two second half goals through Kudakwashe Gurure and Caleb Masocha to register a dream result.
Highlanders’ players and supporters wore gloomy faces as they left Barbourfields yesterday wondering what had hit them. Rovers sat back, forcing the fading Bulawayo giants to come at them, soaked the pressure and hit them on the counter. Highlanders enjoyed a lot of possession, but Rovers looked threatening every time they broke free.
Gurure put the visitors ahead following a quick break in the 51st minute, flicking a Wonder Sithole cross from the left over a drawn-out Highlanders goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda. The goal unsettled Highlanders, who went into panic mode in search of an equaliser. Their sporadic attacks failed to yield desired results, but only served to leave them vulnerable at the back.
Caleb Masocha then put the game to bed in the 80th minute by using his big body frame to dispossess Bosso skipper Felix Chindungwe and beat ‘keeper Sibanda with a rising left shot that hit the roof of the net. After conceding the second goal, most Highlanders fans started leaving the stadium and very few witnessed their team’s face-saver, which came from the boot of Simon Munawa, who beat Rovers’ goalkeeper Victor Twaliki from close range. Taku Shariwa, the Rovers’ coach, said the victory wasn’t a fluke.
“We got our game plan right by having two defensive midfielders. When we got the first goal, they began to show signs of desperation, leaving lots of gaps and we made use of that space. Now that we’ve registered a sweet victory against Highlanders, let this be a warning to other teams that we’re coming for them,” said Shariwa.
Highlanders coach Erol Akbay rued his team’s first half misses and said it’s high time they got their act together and started scoring. Bosso have only managed two goals in six games, a worrying statistic for a team that has its sights on the championship.
“It was a bad day in the office in that we played good football, but forgot to score. We made two stupid mistakes and paid dearly. We’ve to quickly find a system that will work for us because Prince Dube needs to play with someone who understands him.
“Hopefully, we will get it right in our next game and use chances which we create,” said Akbay.
Bosso had five attempts against Rovers, with the first falling to Munawa who blazed his third-minute effort over the bar after being fed by Dube. Right-back Tendai Ngulube also saw his 13th minute cross finding no takers after eluding the Rovers’ backline.
Teams
Highlanders: A. Sibanda, T. Ngulube, H. Moyo (B. Banda, 59th min), F. Chindungwe, E. Mudzingwa, P. Muduhwa, R. Kutsanzira, A. Gahadzikwa, S. Munawa, N. Ndlovu (R. Matema, 45th min), P. Dube (G. Nyoni, 70th min)
Mutare City Rovers: V. Twaliki, M. Japatapa, V. Madamombe, W. Mapfumo, M. Sako, S. Muchabaya, C. Ngondonga, W. Sithole (C. Masocha, 53rd min), B. Majamanda, K. Gurure (B. Mukwena, 79th min), A. Murimba (M. Meleka, 68th min)
Online Reporter