SCOTTS FALL, FINALLY

Sports Reporter

SCOTTLAND conceded for the FIRST TIME in 954 minutes of action but, with Hardrock falling to a shock defeat, Dynamos will see this as a lost opportunity to make a big statement in their quest for the championship.

The Glamour Boys settled for a goalless draw against Simba Bora at Rufaro yesterday on a Sunday in which Scottland lost for the first time in 13 league games.

The champions went down 0-1 to Highlanders at Barbourfields with Benjamin Odeogun scoring the only goal of the match.

For the first time since Norman Mapeza trusted his BMW attacking force of the Musona brothers, and Khama Billiat, the Scotts failed to score.

One of the heroes of a defensive masterclass, which had seen them not concede a goal in their last ten straight games, Kelvin Moyo, was sent off in the 61st minute.

Bosso held on for their biggest win since Benjani Mwaruwari took over as their coach.

The significance of this win will be seen in that Highlanders ensured that their record of NINE wins in NINE straight games, on their way to the league title in 2006, would not be broken by Scottland in their fortress at Barbourfields.

Mapeza’s men arrived at Barbourfields hoping to become the first team, in the era of the Premiership, to win TEN games in a row.

But, they found a Bosso side in no mood to let that happen in their backyard and by the end of the contest, there were celebrations in the City of Kings.

Scottland had last conceded a league goal when Grey Kufandada scored in a losing cause for Agama at Wadzanai in Shamva in May.

The champions won that game 2-1 but they could not repeat that against a Bosso side which, on their day, have shown they can match any club in the PSL.

This is the same Highlanders side which won at Hardrock despite all the financial challenges which have blighted their campaign this season.

This was their biggest win of the season and Scottland will be cheered by the fact that Hardrock also lost and they remain seven points clear at the top.

The Kwekwe side, forced to play behind closed doors after the violence which marred their league game against Dynamos, were odds-on favourites to beat Triangle.

Such a win, given the result at Barbourfields, would have seen them cut the lead of the champions to four points.

But, Hardrock succumbed to a 1-2 defeat in what should be the shock result of the whole season in the domestic Premiership this season.

With Genesis Mangombe returning to Triangle, where he somehow helped them escape relegation last season, there was an expectation that the strugglers could respond to his arrival.

But, very few expected that response to be such a sensational win in a game in which they even found themselves leading by two goals to nil.

Prince Dube scored his first goal for Hardrock in the second half but that was too little, too late for them to even get a point which would cut into the Scotts lead.

The Kwekwe side have now taken just three points in their last three games after losing the replay against Dynamos at Baobab.

The Glamour Boys picked a point against Simba Bhora at Rufaro yesterday.

But, given the other results elsewhere, they will see this as a golden opportunity, to make a big statement, which they fluffed.

Given the way they have played, and the results they had posted since the arrival of their Romanian coach Aristica Cioaba, two points dropped at home will feel like a setback.

Especially, when one considers that a win would have taken them above Hardrock and established them as the main challengers for the Scotts.

That would certainly have added an interesting twist to the championship race.