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From Sikhumbuzo Moyo in Harare
Harare City……………………………………..(2) 4
Highlanders……………………………………….. 0
HIGHLANDERS proved beyond reasonable doubt that they are not championship material when they crumbled like a deck of cards against a determined and technically superior Harare City in a league match played at Rufaro Stadium yesterday.
Bosso were outclassed by the Leslie Gwindi chaired outfit which scored four goals past Munyaradzi Diya to shoot to the top of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League log standings.
Nathan Ziwini gave the home side the lead 20 minutes into the game when he took advantage of some defending by Highlanders to head home a simple goal and eject the home fans from their seats.
The goal seemed to have taken the life out of Highlanders who were to concede another goal right at the end of the first half, again from a header through Silas Songani.
The first half ended with Harare City leading 2-0.
A minute into the second half, Harare City were given a penalty after dreadlocked Bhekimpilo Ncube carelessly fouled Ziwini inside the box. Dickson Crispen stepped up to take the spot kick but to his horror Munyaradzi Diya who was full of energy, blocked the kick with his legs.
In the 51st minute, Harare City went 3-0 up courtesy of Ziwini after a good build-up by the Bigboy Mawiwi-coached side.
Twelve minutes later a moment of individual brilliance from Songani, who made a mockery of Highlanders skipper Innocent Mapuranga, saw him slotting the ball home to score the fourth goal and complete the destruction of Highlanders.
The home side kept on piling on the pressure as if they were the losing side while Highlanders seemed content with the result or even ready to concede more goals.
To cap Highlanders’ miserable afternoon, stand-in coach Bekithemba Ndlovu chose to shock the entire Bosso family when at 0-4 down, he took out speed merchant Gabriel Nyoni for Peter “Rio” Moyo, a player well known for not venturing forward and that all but ended Highlanders hopes of scoring.
“We were so bitter with our loss to Highlanders in the Mbada Diamonds Cup semi-finals at Mandava and we just had to prove to them that we are bigger and better than them,” said an elated Harare City chairman Gwindi.
Speaking after the match, Mawiwi praised his charges for a mission well accomplished.
“I was confident before the match that we would do well and I really give a thumbs up to my boys,” said Mawiwi.
Harare City now need to beat Caps United in their last league match to land the title and complete a memorable season for them under Mawiwi, now the firm favourite for the Coach of the Year accolade. No one from Highlanders technical bench was available for comment.
Teams
Highlanders: M Diya, S Munawa, B Kangwa, E Mudzingwa, I Mapuranga, M Maphosa, H Madzivanyika, M Mambare, B Ncube (M Ncube 56th minute), G Nyoni (P Moyo 79th minute), N Ncube (O Zibande 60th minute)
Harare City: M Nyamupanedengu, M Nyenye (W Kalongonda), T Chiworeso, D Kutyauripo, W Nyamutsaka, D Crispen, S Songani, N Ziwini, W Manondo, M Vengesayi (C Muvuti 76th minute) T Chawapiwa
Online Reporter