Don Makanyanga in Mhondoro-Ngezi
Ngezi Platinums 1-0 Highlanders
NGEZI Platinum Stars left it until deep into stoppage time to snatch maximum points against a resilient Highlanders side in a tightly contested Castle Lager Premier Soccer League encounter at Baobab Stadium yesterday.
Just when the match appeared destined to end goalless, Farai Madanhanga struck in the second minute of stoppage time to break Highlanders’ resistance and hand Ngezi a dramatic 1-0 victory.
The result was harsh on Highlanders, who had matched the former champions for long periods despite going into the match without their coach Benjani Mwaruwari, who was away attending the funeral of club benefactor Wicknell Chivayo.
Highlanders’ preparations had also been disrupted by on-and-off training sessions amid the club’s salary dispute, but Highlanders assistant coach Mkhokheli Dube praised his players for showing resilience and competing against one of the league’s leading sides.
The first half produced a cagey affair, with both teams battling for control but struggling to create clear-cut opportunities.
The pattern continued after the break, although Highlanders started brightly and threatened from a corner shortly after the restart, with Andrew Mbeba’s teasing delivery into the box eventually cleared by the Ngezi defence.
The two sides continued exchanging blows as the match opened up, but neither could find a way through the opposing backline.
With time running out, Highlanders came agonisingly close to taking the lead.
Mongameli Tshuma beat his markers a minute before the end of regulation time and appeared to have found the breakthrough, only for Leslie Kashitigu to clear the effort off the line.
Ngezi immediately responded on the counter and nearly grabbed the winner, but Highlanders goalkeeper Aaron Ngwenya produced an important save to deny Silent Katumba with a minute of normal time remaining.
However, Highlanders’ resistance finally crumbled in the second minute of stoppage time when Madanhanga found the decisive breakthrough to send the home supporters into celebration.
For Ngezi coach Kumbirai Mutiwekuziva, the three points were welcome, although he admitted his team should have settled the contest much earlier.
“I am happy with the three points but at the same time I think we should have killed the match earlier with the chances we had during the match,” said Mutiwekuziva.
Dube was left frustrated by the defeat, particularly after his side failed to make their opportunities count.
“The result is frustrating as it comes and like we always say, if you do not take your chances football will punish you.
“I liked how the team played and we managed to match Ngezi and we were just unlucky that we failed to get our chances, but I am happy with how we played,” said Dube.
