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Harare Bureau
Shabanie Mine 2-1 Highlanders
SHABANIE Mine got a lifeline yesterday when they survived a second half onslaught from the marauding Highlanders frontline as they twice cleared from the line in a match that the visitors could have won at Maglas Stadium.
The asbestos miners’ future, however, hangs by a thread in the relegation fight as they need a win over Triangle to seal their Premiership status.
Smart Muchabayiwa opened the scoring in the 13th minute when he met a freekick from the right from Godknows Murwira with a firm header that went past goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya.
He, however, turned villain when he was given his marching orders in the 78th minute after first assistant referee Victor Kambadzo adjudged he had deliberately hit Highlanders player Gabriel Nyoni.
Shabanie Mine increased their tally seven minutes after the breather when striker Xolisani Ncube beat defender Dumisani Ndlovu and placed his shot past advancing goalkeeper Diya.
Nyoni then pulled one back in the 75th minute. Bosso, who were bombarding the Shabanie area, won a corner kick on the right that fell onto the path of Bruce Kangwa. His delivery was met with a header by Nyoni which London Zulu could not stop.
The defeat, however, does little justice to the effort by Bosso who twice saw their efforts cleared from the line by defender Brighton Pamhirwa. In the first half Pamhirwa was out of sorts with fans calling for his substitution but he became their darling after the clearances.
Charles Sibanda denied himself a goal in the fifth minute when he dribbled past Pamhirwa and left him crawling in the box but he shot weakly at goal allowing Zulu to collect his effort. King Nadolo, Nyoni and Welcome Ndiweni had Shabanie on their toes each time they were in possession in a match in which Felix Chindungwe was also outstanding.
Shabanie had their evergreen Zvenyika Makonese commanding the defence, Talbott Mtombeni, Douglas Sibanda, Wellington Kamudyariwa and Muchabayiwa playing well.
“It was a sweet victory. I would like to congratulate the fans and the players and I hope it is going to lift our spirits in our next match against Triangle,” said Jairos Tapera, the Shabanie coach.
His counterpart Mark Mathe blamed his charges for some blunders.
“In the first half we did not show the zeal hence the defensive blunders as Shabanie were in control. In the second half we scored but missed a number of chances. Congratulations to Shabanie who showed they wanted to survive,” he said.
Shabanie:L Zulu, G Murwira, B Pamhirwa, S Muchabayiwa, Z Makonese, D Sibanda, W Kamudyariwa, R Nenzou (G Saunyama 80th minute), X Ncube, T Mtombeni, A Tavarwisa
Highlanders: M Diya, C Sibanda (S Sithole 58th minute), M Maphosa, B Kangwa, K Mtizwa, F Chindungwe, D Ndlovu, V Ndaba (K Madolo 60th minute), W Ndiweni, G Nyoni
Online Reporter