Highlanders . . . . . . . . (1) 1 Hwange . . . . . . . . . . (0) 1
Fortune Mbele
HIGHLANDERS dropped two valuable points when they shared the spoils with a 10-men Hwange in Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) match at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday.
The Bulawayo giants, now on eight points surrendered the top spot on the PSL standings to Dynamos who once again collected maximum points after dispatching troubled Harare City 3-1 at the National Sports Stadium to land on nine points.
Highlanders scored first in the 22nd minute through a penalty by goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya, his third goal of the season, after Hwange right back Erick Chipeta had brought down Milton Ncube inside the box.
Ncube had dispossessed Chipeta after he received a goal kick from his goalkeeper Takabva Mawaya and on advancing for goal, the right back hacked him from behind and referee Mandlenkosi Sibanda pointed to the spot.
After that goal, the game which had started at a frantic pace degenerated into a drab affair as Hwange, who had dominated the midfield, fizzled out.
Striker Aleck Marime then got his third goal of the season from the edge of the penalty box to get the equaliser for Hwange after he was sent through from a free-kick by Oscar Lungu in the 59th minute.
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Highlanders head coach Kelvin Kaindu said his side lacked hunger for goals. He also blamed his substitutions for failing to improve the game. “It is unfortunate that we failed to pick maximum points from Hwange who have always given us a hard time. We had to make a forced substitution, but Rio was not at his best and we were not so much hungry for goals today,” Kaindu said.
Hwange’s goalkeepers’ coach Chenjerai Dube said it was a tough game, but they were happy to pick up a point away from home saying the referee’s decisions were always not on their side.
“It was a tough match. It was a game of two halves, there were certain decisions by the referee that were not good, but we don’t have control over that. The referee was going one direction. But the team is playing well beginning from last year and it is just a continuation. We want to compete for the honours this year; just watch this space,” Dube said.
Hwange finished the match a man short after right back Munyaradzi Mungadze was given his marching orders by Sibanda for a second bookable offence after he fouled Kuda Mahachi in the 19th minute and Ncube seven minutes before the final whistle.
Teams Highlanders: M Diya, S Munawa (O Zibande 84th minute), B Kangwa, D Ndlovu, I Mapuranga, E Mudzingwa, C Sibanda, M Maphosa (P Moyo 42nd minute), R Kutsanzira (V Ndaba 69th minute), M Ncube, K Mahachi Hwange: T Mawaya, E Chipeta, M Mungadze (red card 83rd minute), D Bworiwondo, G Ndlovu, A Chuma, F Vimisayi (E Rusike 73rd minute), I Masame (T Chese 61st minute), R Chinyengetere, A Marime, O Lungu (G Zulu 80th minute)
