HIGHLANDERS finally remembered how to win again after they dismissed Yadah in a not so inspiring Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Barbourfields Stadium in Bulawayo yesterday. The game was watched by a paltry crowd probably because of last Sunday’s skirmishes which left some fans and police details injured, or maybe it was to do the poor performance of the Bulawayo giants of late.
But Highlanders did not disappoint the fans who witnessed the game which changed momentum, but compounded Yadah’s relegation woes. Mbongeni Ndlovu blasted the ball into the nets in the 35th minute, coming to the end of a Mckinnon Mushore cross from the left which had been miscued by Lynoth Chikuhwa to give Bosso the lead.
Substitute Washington Navaya then sent the Highlanders fans into a delirium in optional time with a thunderbolt which beat Takarinda all systems out, to earn Bosso the much sought three points. Coach Baltemar Brito was ecstatic after his side bounced back to winning ways.
“It was good, today was very good. Congratulations to the players because they played very well. Sometimes you play well and you lose, sometimes you play bad and win. It’s football. The players have been working hard and have a strong mentality. I think now the good moment has come,” Brito said.
His opposite, Maxwell Takaendeswa Jongwe said his side did not play well.
“I think we did not come to the party. The game was difficult, especially in the first half. We did not get our acts together. The better team of the day won the game. We did not play well. As much as Highlanders was better than us, we had the first two realistic chances and for a team like Highlanders, an angry Highlanders, we were bound to be punished. We wanted the three points. These are two teams fighting for two different missions, Highlanders trying to recover and chase the championship and Yadah working for every point to survive. Unfortunately it was not to be today,” Jongwe said.
The three points shot Bosso to second spot on the table with 44 points.
Their 19-match unbeaten run was stopped by FC Platinum with a 2-0 win and they lost the next game by an identical score line and were losing 2-0 to Dynamos in last week’s outing which was called off at 37 minutes due to crowd trouble.
Yadah were the first to fashion out a goal scoring opportunity, but Jerry Chipangura missed a sitter inside the penalty area after he was set up by Junior Zindoga from the right flank. As Highlanders continued to bombard Yadah, right back Marvelous Chigumira sent in a beautiful cross into the box in the 20th minute, but Elshamar’s header went off target.
Five minutes into the second half, Chigumira, who had a game of his life, unleashed a screamer from a free-kick, but Yadah goalkeeper Marshal Takarinda was equal to the task. Melikhaya Ncube also packed a shot in the 57th minute and the busy Takarinda saved the day for Yadah once again.
The game enlivened after Highlanders coach Brito made some changes in the second half, but the goals remained elusive.
Teams
Highlanders: A Sibanda, M Chigumba, M Ndlovu, A Mbeba, P Muduhwa, M Mushore (B Manhire 85′), R Lunga (P Ndlovu 70’), E Farasi (C Chigonero 70′), L Chikuhwa (W Navaya 85′), M Mushore, M Ncube
Yadah: M Takarinda, P Kafelapanjila (N Mlilo 80’), K Nadolo, C Mandivei, B Kadamanja, M Faranando, A Gwatidzo, B Ndereki (R Chifura 54’), J Zindoga (T Chikumba 85′), J Chipangura, L Mucheto
Source Newsday
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