Bosso Share Spoils With CAPS
Highlanders …………………………………….. (1) 2
CAPS United ………………………………..…… (0) 2
CAPS United came twice from behind to salvage a point in this thrilling Premiership soccer match at Barbourfields yesterday.Highlanders drew first blood courtesy of a header by lone striker Nqobile Mpala in the 13th minute when he got to the end of a well-taken corner by Lawson Nkomo.
Substitute Tafadzwa Rusike equalised for CAPS United in the 64th minute with a controversial goal as he kicked the ball from the grasp of goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda, injuring the Highlanders shot-stopper in the process.
This did not go down well with the Highlanders fans and technical team who felt robbed as assistant referee Godfrey Gombwe had raised his flag signalling off-side, but surprisingly put it down and the goal stood.Play had to be stopped for six minutes as fans threw missiles in protest at the atrocious piece of refereeing.
Bosso were back in the lead, courtesy of a header by super-substitute Abraham Mbaiwa off a Gift Lunga cross in the 76th minute.Their joy was, however, short-lived as Nyasha Mushekwi rose high to head home a Rusike cross in the 84th minute.The match started at a slow pace with Highlanders eager to find an opener.
Coach Madinda Ndlovu started with only one striker Mpala and had five midfielders — Bruce Kangwa, Stephen Alimenda, Guide Goddard, Erick Mudzingwa and Protasho Kabwe.
The move worked in Ndlovu’s favour as CAPS United failed to stamp authority in midfield and that gave Bosso the edge to attack more.
Mudzingwa could have put Highlanders in front as early as the fifth minute, but the lanky midfielder failed to utilise a Mpala cross from the right.Highlanders got their first corner in the 10th minute and Kangwa looked in disbelief as his header flew across the goalmouth with no takers.
Highlanders’ persistence finally paid off in the 13th minute when Mpala headed home a Nkomo corner.There was nothing that the CAPS United goalkeeper Tsungai Mudzamiri could do.CAPS United coach Lloyd Chitembwe pulled out defender Pardon Marime and sent in the exciting Rusike in a bid to beef-up his midfield department on 24 minutes.
Rusike’s introduction gave the visitors a new lease of life.Action swung from one end to the other with the home team seeking to extend its lead.Mpala was unlucky not to have registered his second goal when Gombwe adjudged him to have been offside after Kangwa had sent in a defence-splitting pass in the 31st minute.
With the Highlanders defence tight, CAPS United resorted to long-range shots that gave Sibanda no problem.The second half saw CAPS United returning a more determined side as both teams upped the game’s tempo.Goddard could have added his name onto the scoresheet but failed to chip over advancing Mudzamiri in the 52nd minute after being set up by Mpala.
CAPS United had several chances fluffed by culprits Mushekwi and Rusike.Then came the moment that left the crowd shell-shocked when referee Njaya let a controversial goal stand after Sibanda was kicked by Rusike.Sibanda was pulled out due to the injury sustained and replaced by Njabulo Nyoni, who was playing his first competitive match in the club’s colours.
CAPS United could have gone up in the 73rd minute, but Marvel Samaneka shot straight at Nyoni.Mbaiwa put Highlanders back into the lead when he calmly headed home past Mudzamiri in the 74th minute.
Mpala failed to increase his team’s lead in the 78th minute when he shot wide from close-range after dribbling past Method Mwanjali.Highlanders central defenders Zephaniah Ngodzo and Brighton Choto were caught unawares as Mushekwi headed home the equaliser for CAPS United.
The visitors could have sealed victory in the 88th minute but Machapa chose to be selfish. Instead of passing the ball to Mushekwi, who was in a better position, he shot at goal.Mudzingwa could have sealed victory for Highlanders in the referee’s optional time, but was denied by the upright.
Posted by Sakhile Malaba
on June 22, 2009. Filed under Soccer,Sports.
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