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NewsDay

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Bosso push Tsholotsho to the edge

Sport
RELEGATION-threatened Tsholotsho will have to try and secure their top flight status on the last day of the season, after going down to resurgent Highlanders in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday.

RELEGATION-threatened Tsholotsho will have to try and secure their top flight status on the last day of the season, after going down to resurgent Highlanders in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday.

BY SAKHELENI NXUMALO Highlanders . . . . . . . . .(2) 2 Tsholotsho . . . . . . . . . (0) 1

Two first half goals from Ralph Matema and Simon Munawa helped Bosso earn the maximum points, while the visitors got their consolation from veteran Joel Luphahla early in the second half.

The match was watched by Zifa presidential aspirant Trevor Carelse Juul.

Highlanders’ technical director Cosmas Zulu, said their plan to kill off the game in the first half worked for them.

“We wanted to kill off the game in the first half because we knew in the second half fatigue was going to catch up with us,” he said. “After playing three games in eight days, we were exhausted in the second half and our concentration levels went down.”

Tsholotsho began the match, the livelier of the two teams, with dreadlocked midfielder, Ocient Ncube testing Highlanders goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda on five minutes. Highlanders eventually settled and began dictating the tempo of the game, but failed to crack the well organised Tsholotsho defence. The visitors were finally breached after 36 minutes, when Matema opened the scoring off, a quality cross from the overlapping Bruce Kangwa.

Knox Mutizwa (in front ) celebrates his opener against Dynamos at Rufaro Stadium on Sunday

Munawa had won the ball in the middle of the park and released Kangwa, who quickly crossed for Matema and the veteran striker obliged with a first-time effort from inside the penalty box.

Tsholotsho keeper, Nickel Marichi, and his defenders then gifted Highlanders with their second goal after a mix up five minutes before the break.

Marichi rushed off his line to try and deal with a long ball from Bosso midfielder, King Nadolo, but his clearance fell into Munawa’s path and he gleefully slotted into an empty net.

After the break Tsholotsho pulled one back through Luphahla off a free kick taken on the edge of the penalty arc.

The set piece was awarded after Highlanders defender, Felix Chindungwe, brought down Tsholotsho striker, Lynoth Chikuhwa. Tsholotsho enjoyed better ball possession in the second half, but ran out of ideas in the final third.

Substitute Nixon Gama could have earned his side a share of the spoils on the hour mark, but his effort rolled across the goal mouth, with Highlanders keeper Sibanda seemingly beaten.

Tsholotsho coach, Lizwe Sweswe, said his team has to win their last encounter against Harare City next week.

“We wanted to win this match, but it was unfortunate that we lost after and we have to win our last match at all costs to survive,” he said. Highlanders moved to 41 points after their victory, but remain in sixth position, while Tsholotsho remain stuck fifth from the bottom on 30 and lead fourth from bottom Buffaloes by a single point.

Teams

Highlanders; Ariel Sibanda, Tendai Ngulube, Bruce Kangwa, Felex Chindungwe, Teenage Hadebe, Simon Munawa, Nqobizitha Masuku (Rahman Kutsanzira 56), King Nadolo, Valentine Ndaba (Godfrey Makaruse 82), Knox Mutizwa, Ralph Matema (Obidiah Tarumbwa 66)

Tsholotsho; Nickel Marichi, MacClive Phiri, Nkosilathi Moyo (Siza Khoza 77), hando Ncube, William Stima, Butholezwe Ncube, Kriess Chitiyo (Tafadzwa Jaravani 86), Simbarashe Gorogodyo, Ocient Ncube (Nixon Gama 46), Joel Luphahla, Lynoth Chikuhwa