IT did not go according to script for Highlanders yesterday, but maximum points mattered most as substitute Beaven Chikaka struck twice for their fourth win of the season to subdue Black Rhinos in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday.
Report by Sukoluhle Mthethwa
Highlanders . . . . (1) 3 Black Rhinos . . . (0) 1
Chikaka was rewarded for his hard work this season, striking in each half, while Simon Munawa added the insurance goal to ratchet up the pressure on log leaders FC Platinum, who thumped Triangle 3-0 on Saturday.
Wonder Kapinda scored for the visitors.
Highlanders maintained second place on the log table with 13 points from six games, while Black Rhinos are on position 11 with six points from the same number of games.
Bosso assistant coach Bekithemba Ndlovu was not a convinced man.
“The match was OK. We played well and we scored three goals although we conceded what according to me was a soft goal. Sometimes combinations do not work, so we talked to the team during half time and we managed to get the goals. We did not pass as much as we usually do,” he said.
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Black Rhinos coach Nesbert Saruchera said his team played well despite the defeat.
“It was a very good game although we failed to finish off the chances we created. It is unfortunate that we came here when Highlanders were ‘crying’, but I am happy with the way we played. We conceded soft goals because we failed to defend set pieces,” he said.
Black Rhinos dominated the exchanges in the first half and created more chances than the home team.
It was, however, Highlanders who were first on the scoreboard in the 44th minute through Chikaka, who had came in as a substitute for Hillary Madzivanyika in the 29th minute.
Highlanders were awarded a corner which was well delivered by Lawson Nkomo for Chikaka to head home.
In the 51st minute a defensive blunder by Nkomo almost resulted in a goal for Black Rhinos, but Kapinda shot wide.
A minute later, Nkomo made up for his blunder when he delivered yet another corner for Chikaka’s second.
Munawa then made the game safe in the 67th minute when he headed in the third for Bosso, again from a Nkomo cross.
Veteran Black Rhinos player Lazarus Muhoni, a second half substitute, seems to still have it in his legs as he inspired his team to their only goal of the afternoon.
Highlanders captain Innocent Mapuranga fouled Lot Chiunga just outside the box as Rhinos piled on the pressure, but the defence was resolute.
But they went to sleep from the resultant throw-in, allowing Kapinda to tap home past Munyaradzi Diya in the 72nd minute. The last chance for Highlanders came in the 76th minute when Rhinos goalkeeper Britto Gwere punched the ball onto the path of Chikaka, who, however, missed out on a hat-trick as his effort went wide.
