Online Reporter
Brandon Moyo at Barbourfields Stadium, Bulawayo
Highlanders 0-2 TelOne
Bosso’s nightmare season plunged deeper into the shadows yesterday after they were handed a humiliating 2-0 home defeat by TelOne at Barbourfields Stadium.
It was a day of heartbreak for Highlanders skipper Ariel Sibanda, whose penalty miss in the 75th minute summed up the Bulawayo giants’ misery. The veteran goalkeeper’s effort was superbly stopped by TelOne shot-stopper Criss
Mverechena, who dived the right way to keep his side’s lead intact.
Earlier, the WiFi Boys had surged ahead in the 9th minute when Tawanda Macheke sliced through a sleepy Bosso defence to beat Sibanda in a one-on-one. Former Highlanders striker Washington Navaya twisted the knife deep into added time, calmly slotting home his 12th goal of the season against his old paymasters.
Referee Tichaona Mbire sparked chaos with a controversial penalty call after adjudging a TelOne defender to have handled the ball inside the box. The decision triggered heated protests from the visitors, but justice seemed to prevail when Mverechena denied Sibanda from the spot.
Bosso’s frontline fluffed their lines throughout the afternoon. Prince Ndlovu skied a glorious chance, Reason Sibanda failed to capitalise on a clever lob, and Archford Faira’s dangerous late cross went begging.
The loss left Bosso fans stunned in the terraces, many shaking their heads at a side that looked out of ideas in the final third.
Line-ups:
Highlanders — Ariel Sibanda (gk), Arthur Ndlovu, Melikhaya Ncube, Prince Ndlovu (Panashe Mushonga 46), Tendai Muvuti (Reason Sibanda 46), Malvern Hativagoni (Mvelo Khoza 46), Brighton Ncube, Mason Mushore, Never Rauzhi, Archford Faira, Luckmore Mutumbi.
TelOne — Criss Mverechena (gk), Frank Makarati, Tafadzwa Jaravani, Nkosiyabo Masilela (Panashe Mtasa 63), Kudakwashe Nyakudanga, Pawell Govere, Eriya Mafirenyika, Bruno Mtigo, Tawanda Macheke, Prince Milanzi (Leeroy Murape 63), Washington Navaya.
