Chiredzi FC . . . . . . . .(0) 0 Highlanders . . . . . . .(1) 3
KENNETH NYANGANI
HIGHLANDERS collected three vital away points after thrashing Premiership newcomers Chiredzi FC 3-3 in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Chishamiso Stadium yesterday.
The defeat continued to pile more misery on the Moses Chunga-coached side who were also handed a 3-1 league defeat in the Lowveld derby against Triangle last weekend at Gibbo Stadium.
Highlanders scored through Ozias Zibande in 27th minute and Kuda Mahachi in the 76th minute before substitute Charles Sibanda put the final nail on the coffin on the 81st minute.
Highlanders head coach Kelvin Kaindu said after the match: “They are a good side and they were determined to win collect maximum points, they are good on set pieces. In the second half we managed to make use of our chances and we were rewarded with goals and were always confident of getting the three points.”
Chunga said he was not disappointed with the loss and was looking forward to collecting maximum points in his next fixture against Black Rhinos.
“The defeat is not disappointing, but we played like boozers in the first half. We improved in the second half, but it was too late. We are now looking forward to collecting maximum points against Black Rhinos in our next match,” he said.
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The visitors started the match on a high note, pressing hard their opposition in their own half and their first shot on target came in the fourth minute when Eric Mudzingwa’s low pile drive was saved by Chiredzi goal minder Claudious Makore.
Sensing danger, the hosts upped the tempo and they were unlucky on the quarter-hour mark after in-form Highlanders goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya tipped over the bar Malvern Gaki’s shot.
The visitors got the opener when Zibande pounced on a rebound from a Mahachi shot.
In the second stanza, Chiredzi FC made a double substitution in an attempt to shift the momentum, but it was the visitors who could have increased the lead in the 49th minute when Knox Mtizwa was released by Mthulisi Maphosa, but the striker failed to beat Makore from a one-on-one situation.
Chiredzi FC midfielder Munyaradzi Chiwara, who scored from a free-kick last weekend in the Lowveld derby against Triangle, saw his thunderbolt free-kick scrapping off the cross-bar in the 66th minute.
Two minutes later a Chiredzi FC goal was disallowed for off-side after Sam Msimbo had netted from close range.
As they pressed for an equaliser, Chiredzi were caught the counter attack with Warriors winger Mahachi scoring the second goal after a solo run from centre circle.
Substitute Charles Sibanda, who came in for Zibande in the 70th minute benefited from a lapse in concentration by the Chiredzi defence to score the third goal.
