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Bruce Chikuni in SHAMVA
Simba Bhora . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 2
Highlanders . … . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(1) 1
AS LARGELY expected, the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League top-of-the-table clash pitting the miners and Bosso resembled a championship-deciding fixture.
Goals were recorded, flowery football was displayed, and not surprisingly blows were exchanged before an otherwise carnival atmosphere.
This result means Simba Bhora have now floored two of the country’s most respected three teams as they also won 1-0 against Dynamos in their first season of using Wadzanai which they are turning into a fortress.
CAPS United are also scheduled to visit this venue later this season.
Bosso had taken a 22nd-minute lead through Marvelous Chigumira before the hosts rallied back via Tymon Machope in the 39th minute and Walter Musona in the 65th minute.
Tonderai Ndiraya’s troops are now two points off FC Platinum who are visiting Chicken Inn at Luveve today.
The match was played with high intensity as Highlanders looked determined to end Simba Bhora’s unbeaten run at Wadzanai.
Machope nearly fired the hosts in front, off a long-range effort and was denied by the upright in the 12th minute.
Two minutes later, Mthokozisi Msebe miscued his final pass which he intended to find Machope in a two versus one situation leaving Bosso unpunished for poor marking.
Bosso proved dominant in the midfield duels where Mckinon Mushore was bossing the proceedings for the better part of the first half.
This left Simba Bhora anchorman, Tichaona Chipunza unsettled as he tried to end the visitors’ penetration through the middle.
On the back of the applied pressure, Chipunza was booked for a crude challenge on Lynoth Chikuhwa and Chigumira made no mistake from a rebound off the resultant free-kick to put the visitors ahead.
Machope failed to find the net in the 28th minute with only Muza in sight in what was the team’s biggest chance before the break.
Simba Bhora looked more interested in hitting Bosso on counter-attacks giving the visitors the freedom to do as they please.
Hosts goalkeeper Talbert Shumba was called into action in the 32nd minute with a well-volleyed attempt from Peter Muduhwa.
Simba Bhora thought they had won a penalty two minutes later as they felt that Musona attempt had been blocked by Muduhwa’s hand.
Machope restored parity in the 36th minute off a neat build-up with Musona although some felt the later was offside.
The action had to be stopped for close to 10 minutes as Highlander players and technical team expressed their disapproval of the goal to the nearside assistant.
Highlanders goalkeepers’ coach, Daniel Khumalo was sent to the stands for being at the forefront of the dissent that ensued in the mayhem. As he was heading towards the tunnel Simba Bhora officials claimed that Khumalo said something which did not amuse them.
Amid the melee, some Highlanders players rushed and attacked Simba Bhora’s technical team area after taking exception from how their official was treated and blows were traded as a result.
The feud invited the intervention of the ZRP members who were at the venue.
Highlanders never seemed like the same team that was in charge of the first half in the early stages of the second half.
Musona, who has recorded more goals against Bosso than any team in the Castle Lager Premiership, fired the hosts ahead for the first time in the game off a well-struck free-kick to take his tally to seven goals this season.
Once Bosso conceded the second goal, the fact that their opponent had never lost at home appeared to have weighed on them heavily as they seemed to lack the desire to level matters.
Their coach Kelvin Kaindu blamed the match officials for letting his team down.
“We didn’t lose the match; I think the game was decided by match officials.
“Unfortunately, we have been hearing that certain teams are winning in strange ways,” said Kaindu.
His counterpart, Ndiraya was full of praise for his charges for holding their own to upset Bosso. Ndiraya insisted that their wins against Highlanders and Dynamos at Wadzanai should be seen as historic considering Simba Bhora’s underdog status.
“I used to be told that Simba Bhora fans will always come to watch their team against any team that visits Wadzanai and I have seen that they were not lying.
“We won this game because of our fans, who kept supporting us even when Bosso were bossing us in the first half and this victory is for them.
“Simba Bhora are just two years old in the PSL and winning against Bosso and DeMbare in their first season of playing at home should be appreciated because it is historic,” said Ndiraya.
Online Reporter