Obadiah Tarumbwa scored a late winner as Highlanders piled on problems for relegation-haunted Buffaloes in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Barbourfields Stadium in Bulawayo yesterday.
BY FORTUNE MBELE HIGHLANDERS . . . . . . . . . 0) 1 BUFFALOES . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0
At the death, Highlanders first defended a Buffaloes attack with goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda, who saved a Lloyd Katongomara’s effort, before Bosso launched a counter-attack that resulted in Tarumbwa picking his spot to beat goalkeeper Blessing Mandimutsira and send the hosts’ fans into celebration.
Dutchman Elroy Akbay, who is earmarked to take over at Highlanders as head coach next year, watched the match.
With the win, Highlanders rose two rungs up the ladder to ninth position, with 35 points.
Bosso technical adviser, Cosmas “Tsano” Zulu was happy, but rued the number of missed chances.
“I nearly collapsed on the bench with the way we missed chances. We were looking to a harvest of goals, but we missed chances. Were it not for Ariel’s crucial save we could have gone down. We have to convert our chances. But the three points are important for us to finish in the top eight. There is a good incentive to go up,” he said.
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Knox Mutizwa watched his header go wide in the 14th minute from a Valentine Ndaba cross. Ralph Matema’s header just before half time was also blocked.
Ndaba had his short punched away by Mandimutsira in the 60th minute and Mutizwa failed to capitalise on the rebound.
Matema provided the miss of the day in the 77th minute inside the 12-yard box from a Kangwa cross, when he powered his effort off-target with only Mandimutsira to beat.
Buffaloes head coach, Saul Chaminuka, was devastated after Highlanders got the crucial goal in optional time.
“We just did not have the luck. It was supposed to be us celebrating. Sometimes the the gods of football are unfair. It was a good game that we played away from home. We still have three games to go and we are not throwing in the towel,” Chaminuka said.
Buffaloes remain stuck on 13th position after the defeat with 26 points.
