Highlanders 0-0 Herentals
Milton Mashasha Sports Reporter in Byo, Zimbabwe.
Bulawayo, Zimbabwe (News Of The South) The Zimbabwean oldest club soccer giants Highlanders fc’s poor show continued Sinday afternoon at Barbourfields stadium their home ground as they were held to a nil all draw by the stubborn Harare based outfit Herentals FC.
It was a one sided affair where by the home side Highlanders dominated and had a lions share in the entire 90 minutes with only the visitors relying on sporadic rare counter attacks which was sometimes a scare to the host in those few goal mouth action but mostly they guarded their goal area in numbers jealously denying Highlanders to score on numerous occasions.
It was the home side Highlanders who threatened Herentals’s goal area as early as the first opening seconds.The Highlanders right back McClive Phiri overlapped then sent an inviting cross to the Herentals’s goal area but it was cleared by the visitors for a corner.
Five minutes later Highlanders were back again with Prince Dube laying a through pass to Tinashe Makanda who missed the target under challenge.
A minute later this time it was Prince Dube who tried to shoot from out side the box but his shot went off target.
The overlapping Phiri was fed by Brain Banda but the former could not direct his shot as he skied his effort to no man’s land.
In the eleventh minute Bukhosi Sibanda’s grounder from outside the box was easily saved by Herentals’s goal minder Frank Kuchinei.
It was a miss after a miss by Highlanders players with Herentals Keeper produced his best of the day when he tipped over the cross bar a dangerous dipping shot from the Highlanders forward in the 21st minute. Three minutes later Banda’s shot from outside the 18yard box was then blocked to save the day for the students.In the 31st minute the big man Innocent Benza who seemingly was employed as the lone striker who was supported by his son Tinotenda Benza and Blessing Majarira was fouled in half of the host and the visitors were awarded à set piece but they wasted free kick.
Innocent Benza,the oldest player so far in the local Premier soccer league who is now 45years old.One could tell that age is now restricting him,his legs can no longer carry him anymore.He was just forcing himself, he was just like a passenger only to add numbers,Highlanders failed to take advantage of the presence of Benza who was non effective at all,he was very slow to react,could not run,was always second to the ball losing balls simple. This forced the enterprising national team attacking midfielder Richard Hachiro to play deep in the midfielder because they were always back peddling his presence was not felt.
In the 37th minute the Herentals skipper Blessing Majarira was shown the yellow card for rough play.
It was very unfortunate for McClive Phiri who could not finish the match due to injury.A through ball was laid on him as he was taking the cross on the run he was pushed to the perimeter fence and he went on to hit the fence as he tried to cross the ball although he was successful with his intended cross but the intended cross was cut off for a corner.McClive was then rushed in an Ambulance to Mpilo Hospital.
Madinda Ndlovu was forced to introduce Andrew Mbeba for the injured Phiri.In the 43rd minute Prince Dube laid a pass to Tinashe Makanda who went on to miss the target again.The match went for a breather tied on a nil all scoreline.
Just 2 minutes after the resumption ,Makanda missed from a Prince Dube’s pass who was working overtime creating chances for himself and his teammates but goals could not come.
Then Madinda substituted the seemingly tired Bukhosi Sibanda in the 57th minute and in came Peter Nyirenda the Zambian striker .In the 59th minute Devine came close but his shot was always rising missing the target.
Highlanders continued bombarding the Herentals goal area but the student, Herentals as affectionally known stood resolutely and defended their goal area very well restricting Highlanders from getting that elusive goal.Prince Dube came close twice but his efforts were thwarted by the compact Herentals back line.Herentals made two substitution in succession with Highlanders also pulling out Devine and bringing in Denzel Khumalo who nearly put Highlanders upfront in the 73rd minute but his grass cutting shot missed the upright post by few inches with the Herentals keeper Frank Kuchinei on the other side of action.
Herentals then made their final substitution in the 79th minute taking out the skipper Blessing Majarira and in came Tafadzva Chitukutuku who nearly punished Highlanders in the dying minutes of the match after a quick counter attack with a powerful blistering shot missing the target by few inches.Aerial Sibanda was seemingly a beaten man.
It was indeed an entertaining match only goals that could not come.Highlanders tried their best,dominated play,with Prince Dube fighting all afternoon but only goals eluded them,they missed several chances,for Herentals they looked comfortable with a point away from home.
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