Highlanders . . . . . . (0) 1 Caps United . . . . . . . . . 0
Highlanders captain Gilbert Banda scored one minute before the final whistle as the Bulawayo giants beat Caps United in a dull Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday.
It was defender Banda’s second goal of the season as he scored a fortnight ago when Bosso beat Black Mambas 3-0 at Emagumeni.
Midfielder Eric Mudzingwa was brought down just after the centre line into the Green Machine’s half two minutes before full time and Bosso were awarded a free kick.
Lawson Nkomo spotted Banda stealthily encroaching into the Caps United penalty area and he flighted in a beautiful cross which the skipper neatly headed past goalkeeper Edmore Sibanda, sending the Bosso fans into wild celebrations.
Bosso are now third on the log table, at par on points with fourth-placed FC Platinum on 17 points and a point behind joint leaders Motor Action and Chicken Inn. Fans had already started streaming out of the stadium as Banda rose to the occasion for Highlanders in the lifeless encounter.
Sibanda was given his marching orders by referee Bekezela Makeka after punching away Highlanders’ substitute Arnold Ndiweni cross from outside the box with the hosts seeking their second goal in added time.
Although the match failed to live up to its billing, the first half belonged to the visitors as Caps United dominated, especially in the middle of the park.
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Bosso’s midfield was virtually weak, with Arnold “Majaivana” Tshuma left to do the donkey work while Louis Matawu was a passenger and Mudzingwa more on the offensive.
Makepekepe’s Pride Tafirenyika, Frank Adu, David Rediyoni and Washington Pakamisa had a field day in the centre.
Highlanders’ man-of-the-moment Rahman Kutsanzira made a spectacular move in the 13th minute making his way past the Caps United defenders and pushed the ball to Vincent Nzombe, who failed to connect from inside the box.
Marvel Samaneka was brought down just outside the Highlanders goal area, a chance for Caps United to score and a curling stinger by goalkeeper Sibanda in the 16th minute missed target by a few centimetres with goalkeeper Lovemore Makwavarara a beaten man.
Another move by Highlanders’ Misheck Mburayi and Kutsanzira, who set up Matawu in the 34th minute, was blocked by Sibanda who punched the ball away for a corner.
A minute later it was another chance for the Green Machine, but lethal Simba Sithole was disturbed by Nkomo after receiving a pass from a counter-raid and his effort went off target.
Nzombe’s flick in the 57th minute inside the box almost eluded Sibanda, but he quickly recovered and punched the ball away for a corner.
Ndiweni had the miss of the day in the 69th minute after shooting way off target with only Sibanda to beat.
Among the spectators at the lacklustre match was South African Premiership club Mamelodi Sundowns chief scout Trott Moloto, who was accompanied by Caps United director and PSL chairman Twine Phiri, Makekepeke chief executive Maxwell Mironga and former member of the executive Ziyambi Ziyambi.
Teams
Highlanders:
L Makwavarara, L Nkomo, B Tshuma, I Mapuranga, G Banda, A Tshuma, R Kutsanzira, L Matawu (A Ndiweni 67th min), V Nzombe, E Mudzingwa, M Mburayi (M Sibanda 81st min)
Caps United:
E Sibanda, F Adu (T Mangezi 64th min), A Chiveya, G Mapemba, N Mukumbi, W Pakamisa, D Rediyoni, M Samaneka (E Gwekwerere 46th min), S Sithole (C Kawinga 85th min), P Tafirenyika, D Walaza
