|
Highlanders ........................................................................................................…1 (1)
Motor Action...........................................................................................................… 0 THERE was something to finally smile about for the long-suffering Highlanders fans when their team ended an eight-match winless run with a hard-fought victory over Motor Action in a CBZ Premier Soccer League match at Barbourfields yesterday. Cuthbert Malajila’s first half strike was all that the Bulawayo giants needed to rediscover how to win. The victory was a huge relief to the Bosso technical team, players, executive and the fans who had watched in agony as the Bulawayo giants failed to win in their last eight assignments. A relieved Bosso interim coach Reuben Tsengwa said perseverance had finally paid off for the team, adding that Highlanders would continue working hard for positive results. "It was a good game for us and our patience finally paid off. We are going to continue working hard and hope to win our remaining matches and try new combinations," said Tsengwa. He gave credit to Zephania Ngodzo and Guide Goddard for doing a sterling job in marshalling the defence and revealed that injured skipper Gilbert Banda would have to fight for the first team jersey. "Zephania and Goddard did well in the heart of defence. It would not be easy for Gilbert when he returns as he has to work hard to get a place in the team," said Tsengwa. The match started off on a high note with Highlanders attacking from the outset. It was from one of those early attacks that the former champions managed to grab a goal. Malajila volleyed home from close range after two minutes from a Gift Lunga long clearance. Lunga had cleared the ball under the challenge of Louis Matawu and Malajila outpaced Moses Williams, who should have done better to clear the ball to safety. The early goal gave Highlanders the cutting edge as they began dictating the pace of the game, but in the sixth minute Johannes Ngodzo looked in agony as his long-range shot missed the goal by inches. Motor Action’s first attempt at goal was in the ninth minute when Warriors midfielder Clemence Matawu set up Salimu Milanzi who took a weak shot that gave Washington Arubi no problems. The visitors’ defence of Williams and Milanzi looked shaky and had the Highlanders strike force been lethal, they could have bagged more goals. In the 29th minute Highlanders could have doubled the scoreline after they were awarded a penalty after Milanzi brought down Douglas Zimbago in the box. Marlon Jani, who was in goal for the visitors, made a brilliant save, diving to his left to deny Johannes a goal. Malajila, full of running the whole afternoon, failed to beat Jani in a one-on-one situation in the 35th minute. The last five minutes of the first half saw the visitors taking the game away from Highlanders in search of an equaliser. Motor Action played some beautiful passes, keeping possession and making brilliant build-ups, but failed to find the back of the net. Darryl Nyandoro should have levelled in the 42nd minute after being set up by Milanzi who had done well to beat Lawson Nkomo and sent in a hard and low cross, which Nyandoro, unmarked in the box, failed to connect. In the 44th minute Simbarashe Zimora shot over the cross-bar with only Arubi to beat. The second half saw the Lindile Dube-coached Mighty Bulls returning a more determined side. The introduction of Edmore Mufema for Zimora resuscitated the Harare’s team strike force and they nearly equalised in the 55th minute when Clemence set up Mufema, but the former Dynamos striker shot over the bar. Jacob Muzokomba, who came in for Johannes Ngodzo, could have had his name on the scoresheet but failed to connect a cross delivered by Zimbago in the 75th minute. Louis Matawu, who had a good game, beat Richard Choruma and Lunga on the left side and released a cross for Mufema, who watched in disbelief as the woodwork denied him a goal with Arubi beaten all systems. Mufema could have grabbed a late equaliser but lack of precision by the striker saw him head the ball wide with only Arubi to beat in the 90th minute. Teams: Highlanders: W. Arubi, Z. Ngodzo, G. Goddard, L. Nkomo, G. Lunga, S. Alimenda, R. Choruma, A. Mbaiwa, J. Ngodzo (J. Muzokomba 73rd min), D. Zimbago, C. Malajila Motor Action: M. Jani, E. Tembo, R. Marere, M. Williams, L. Matawu, C. Matawu, S. Milanzi, D. Chakupa (I. Masame 53rd min), P. Mumba, S. Zimora (E. Mufema 53rd min), D. Nyandoro (L. Salous 79th min).
NewZimbabwe |
