Highlanders . . . . . . (1) 1 Dynamos . . . . . . . . (1) 1 Two goals and a missed penalty in 96 minutes of action defined the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match yesterday as Highlanders and Dynamos played to a stalemate at Barbourfields Stadium.
Dynamos’ Takesure Chinyama scored just after 120 seconds while Milton Ncube hit the equaliser in the 33rd minute for Bosso.
Then Mthulisi Maphosa saw George Chigova save his penalty in the 71st minute before Martin Vengesayi was seemingly brought down in the box, but referee Hardlife Ndazi ignored the close penalty call.
For the point, Bosso remained unbeaten on 15 games and 33 points, nine ahead of Dynamos, who stayed in seventh position with 24 points and with two games in hand.
Highlanders matched Caps United’s 2004 unbeaten record of 15 games when they marched to the title under Charles Mhlauri.
It was Highlanders sixth draw of the season and the fourth at home while for Dynamos, who play Caps United at Rufaro next Sunday, it was their third draw.
Dynamos, the defending champions, are now under pressure to beat Caps and FC Platinum in the next two weeks if they are to make their intentions clear before the second half of the season starts.
They might also replay another match against Hwange after the 4-2 win was annulled after Dynamos’ marshals manhandled the coalminers’ coaches before a league match at Rufaro two months ago.
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Bosso coach Kelvin Kaindu said at the end of the match: “It was not good for us especially after we dominated the game and gave away that penalty.
Maphosa is our penalty kick specialist, but that happens in football. We expected to get maximum points, but then we have remained unbeaten, which is good for us.”
Tonderai Ndiraya, Dynamos’ assistant coach, said it was a good result, snatching a point away from home, but felt his charges lost concentration after the early goal.
“The boys took a back seat after scoring that goal. We expected to put more pressure on Highlanders. Highlanders dominated the game, but we came back a better side in the second half.
We are, however, quite satisfied with a point away from home. That penalty awarded to Highlanders was a clear penalty. We now want to push and collect maximum points when we meet Caps United next week.”
Two minutes into the game, Rodreck Mutuma broke loose in the centre and pushed the ball to Tichaona Mabvura, who spotted Chinyama on the run on the left flank inside Highlanders’ goal area and the latter lobbed the ball first time over Ariel Sibanda, sending the Dynamos supporters at the Mpilo end into a delirium.
But they were stunned into silence in the 33rd minute after Masimba Mambare roasted David Kutyauripo on the left flank before sending a cross, which eluded Chigova and left-back Ocean Mushure and found Ncube, who nodded the ball home for the equaliser.
Hwange-based referee Ndazi pointed to the spot after striker Beaven Chikaka was brought down inside the box in the 69th minute with Dynamos players contesting the match official’s decision, but they were quickly restrained by goalkeepers’ coach Tichaona Diya.
The gangly Chigova stretched to save the spot kick while Bosso players were caught flat-footed on the rebound, thinking Maphosa had converted.
Dynamos could have pulled another shocker through a well-taken free kick by Mushure in the 71st minute just outside Highlanders penalty box after Chinyama had been fouled by Bruce Kangwa, but Sibanda tipped the ball over the cross bar in an equally-good save.
All credit for Highlanders goes to man-of-the-match Erick Mudzingwa, who worked tirelessly to thwart every other move from Chinyama and Mutuma.
Teams Highlanders: A Sibanda, A Musasa, B Kangwa, E Mudzingwa, I Mapuranga, M Maphosa, S Munawa (A Ndiweni 64th minute), P Moyo, G Ncube (B Chikaka 53rd minute), M Ncube (O Zibande 80th minute), M Mambare
Dynamos: G Chigova, D Kutyauripo, O Mushure, P Jaure, G Zhokinyi, M Makopa, R Mutuma (M Vengesai 56th minute), T Mabvura, T Chinyama (A Kaseloki 77th minute), T Muparati, C Sekete (D Kabwe 87th minute)
