Highlanders fc…………0 (2)
Ngezi Platinum fc…….0 (1)
A thunder bolt goal from Simon Munawa in the 73rd minute and a late ferocious penalty by the gangly stand in captain Eric Mudzingwa in the 90+ minutes were enough for Erol’s Akbay boys who came from behind to beat the spirited Ngezi Platinum fc 2-1 at Barbourfields stadium yesterday afternoon.
By MILTON MASHASHA in BULAWAYO,ZIM.
The Bulawayo giants Highlanders started the match a better side,dominating possession,with Ngezi Platinum chasing shadows especially in the middle of the park where Eric Mudzingwa,Rahman Kutsanzira,Allen Gahadzikwa and Simon Munawa were pulling the strings for the home side.
The pair of Prince Dube and Nhlanhla Ndlovu kept the Ngezi back line ontoes,the likes of Talent Chamboko,Byron Madzokere,Patson Jaure and their skipper Liberty Chakoroma. Ngezi Platinum nearly took the lead as early as the 4th minute in a swift counter attack with Highlanders defence ball watching hoping the referee will blow for an offside but alas it was not to be.
Aerial Sibanda came out of his goal line area to clear the ball but he missed the ball which was already lobbed over him only to be cleared from the line by Tendai Ndlovu to save Highlanders from the early scare.
In the 13th minute Rahman Kutsanzira’s shot went wide from Honest Moyo’s cross.Highlanders fc applied more pressure but the Ngezi Platinum defence denied to be intimidated,they defended their goal area resolutely.In the 23rd minute Prince Dube benefited from Patson Jaure’s poor ball control,he cut inside into the 18 yard area but his shot missed the target with few inches.
Three minutes later Honest Moyo’s cross from outside the 18 yard box was blocked.A minute later Tendai Ngulube shot wide from close range after receiving a clean pass from the enterprising Prince Dube.Highlanders fc continued with their possessional domination regardless of some moments of individual brilliance from some of the Ngezi Platinum players the likes of Terrence Dzukamanja,the dribbling wizardry Donald Teguru and the hard running James Marufu who gave the Highlanders players a torrid time when ever in possession.
In the 30th minute Eric Mudzingwa sent a long range speculative shot which was always rising giving no problem to the Ngezi goal minder Mverechena.
Allen Gahadzikwa missed a seater in the 32rd minute directing his header wide with the goal yawning after a beautiful cross from the skipper Eric Mudzingwa.The Ngezi goalkeeper made a good save in the 34th minute from a dangerous looking shot from Rahmàn Kutsanzira.In the 40th minute Prince Dube failed to connect a good cross from the ever improving and impressive Highlanders right back Tendai Ngulube.
Three minutes later Patson Jaure worked his way past Honest and sent an inviting cross which eluded the Ngezi strikers and the entire Highlanders defence and rolled out for a throw in.In the 45th minute Nhlanhla Ndlovu was adjudged to have fouled Chris Mverechena after Tendài Ngulube had sent a dropping cross into the Ngezi goal area.The match went to half time in a nil all scoreline.
The Ngezi Platinum fc regrouped after the breather and they resumed the second half fired up with a stunning second half performance.Talent Chamboko nearly put his name in the score sheet in the first minute after resumption with a dropping shot which was cleverly tipped by the alert Aerial Sibanda.A minute later Aerial was the saviour again saving a powerful shot from the hard running Ngezi striker James Marufu.
In the 9th minute Simon Munawa’s shot was blocked from inside Ngezi 18 yard area.James Marufu came again to haunt Highlanders in the 10th minute but he was rulled offside after a nice through ball was laid on him.
Erol Akbay introduced the veteran striker Ralph Matema for Nhlanhla Ndlovu,in that very minute Ngezi were about to take a corner kick after the intended exciting winger Donald Teguru’ s shot was blocked for a corner.The set piece was taken by Tatenda Mchisa who perfectly curled the ball into the crowded Bosso goal area and the ball nestled into the empty net with the Highlanders goalminder Aerial and his defence akimbo ball watching.
Mchisa scoring straight from the corner kick in the 20th minutes of the second half,65th minutes to be precise.The goal came as a wakening signal for Highlanders who came out of their shells just immediatetely after the goal.In the 21st minute a sleeky flick by Matema to Prince was punched away to safety by Mverechena.
Akbay sensing danger and defeat he sacrificed a defender Honest Moyo and in came the speedy forward Gabriel Nyoni in 24th minute.Switching the formation to a more attacking team.Four minutes(28th) after his introduction,the speedy merchant Gabriel raced forward down the wing and sent a clinical cross to Simon Munawa who made no mistake firing home a stunning ferocious shot to beat the stranded Chris Mverechena all systems out to level terms (1-1) one all.
In the 30th minute Tonderayi Ndiraya substituted James Marufu for the stocky Washington Pakamisa.Donald Teguru was fouled in the 32rd minute in a precarious area but the set piece was blocked by the Highlanders wall.
An injury inspired substitution was made by Erol pulling out the injured Aerial for Njabulo Nyoni in the 34th minute.Rahman kutsanzira’s dangerous cross inside the Ngezi box was headed out for a corner.In the 41st minute the Ngezi slippery winger Teguru roasted Tendai Ngulube in and out and only he agonisingly shot wide from close range.Three minutes later a minute before regulation time Allen Gahadzikwa sent in a dipping cross intended to Matema who was waiting for a kill only to be seemingly vigorously pushed off the ball,a professional obstruction by Talent Chamboko.
The referee of the day Philani Ncube did not hesitate to caution the defender with the first ànd only yellow card of the match hence signalling for a penalty.
That did not go down well with the Ngezi Players and technical staff they protested against the decision to the extent that Ndirayà called all his players out.After the dispute the hotly contested penalty was finally taken by the skipper Eric Mudzingwa who sent a ferocious shot sending Mverechenà the wrong way hiting the roof of the net making it 2-1 for Highlanders.
The goal was scored in the 90+ minutes and just few minutes after the goal the referee blew to end the match.Ngezi Platinum might feel hard done by the late penalty which looked like a soft penalty.They thought they had snatched a point from the rejuvenated Erol Akbay’s side only to succumb to a late goal.
Teams:
Highlanders fc:
A.Sibanda(N.Nyoni)T.Ngulube,T.Ndlovu,H.Moyo(G.Nyoni)P.Muduhwa,E.Mudzingwa,S.Munawa,R.Kutsanzira,A.Gahadzikwa,N.Ndlovu(R.Matema)P.Dube.
Ngezi Platinum fc:
C.Mverechena,P.Jaure,T.Mchisa,T.Chàmboko,B.Madzokore,J.Ngulube,L.Chakoroma,T.Dzukamanja,E.Tapera,J.Marufu(W.Pakamisa)D.Teguru.
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