Bosso thump Buffaloes

Sport
HIGHLANDERS striker Charles Sibanda produced a classic performance yesterday scoring twice with a deflected third goal helping his side thump Buffaloes in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match played at Sakubva Stadium.

HIGHLANDERS striker Charles Sibanda produced a classic performance yesterday scoring twice with a deflected third goal helping his side thump Buffaloes in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match played at Sakubva Stadium.

OBEY MANAYITI SPORTS REPORTER

Buffaloes . . . . . .. . . . . . (0) 1 Highlanders . . . . . . . . . (1) 3

The win saw Highlanders maintain pole position with 19 points, one ahead of Hwange who dismissed Shabanie Mine 3-0 and two ahead of How Mine, who drew 2-2 against ZPC Kariba on Saturday.

The visitors were on the offensive in the early stages of the game and their fine performance earned them an early goal scored in the 16th minute by the exciting striker.

Sibanda was once again on target on the 55th minute to claim a brace and 10 minutes later his strike was deflected by Buffaloes defender Liberty Chakoroma, leaving the home side’s goalminder Blessing Mwandimutsira clutching thin air.

Following the electrifying win, Highlanders coach Kelvin Kaindu was naturally a happy man.

“It’s good that we have won. It’s good that we managed to pick up three points from here,” said Kaindu.

“We started well and the first goal that we scored gave us an advantage over Buffaloes,” he added.

For Luke Masomere it was another bad day in the office though he underlined that there was an improvement on how his charges performed yesterday as compared to the last match where they were beaten 1-5 in Triangle.

Highlanders were on the offensive as early as 10 minutes into the game with a well taken free-kick by Milton Ncube just outside the box forcing Mwandimutsira to tip the shot over the bar for a corner-kick.

But there was no denying Bosso the opener six minutes later as attacking midfielder Peter Moyo embarked on a fine run from his half and fed Sibanda, who put the ball away with a superb finish.

Moyo was substituted in the 26th minute for Welcome Ndiweni as Kaindu shored up his leaky midfield.

It was almost 2-0 in the 21st minute, but Erick Mudzingwa saw his effort hit the upright.

Buffaloes’ Roy Mwenga almost snatched an equaliser in the 38th minute with a thundering shot which was, however, punched for a corner by Ariel Sibanda.

The army side finally got their equaliser two minutes after the breather through a Jacob Muzokomba well taken free kick outside the box.

But that only served to spur Highlanders as they reclaimed the lead in the 55th minute following an easy tap in by the alert Sibanda after some lax defending by the home side.

The visitors further rubbed salt on the wounds of Buffaloes 10 minutes later with Sibanda’s shot being deflected by Buffaloes defender Chakoroma, to let Highlanders claim three away points.

Buffaloes’ resilience nearly paid in the 90th minute, but Admire Dzumbunu’s close shot comfortably landed in Ariel Sibanda’s hands.

Teams Buffaloes: B Mwandimutsira, S Choenda, M Gutu, P Chandisaita, L Chakoroma, T Mombeshora, F Bushiri, (A Dzumbunu 67th), R Mwenga (A Phiri 67th min), J Takunda, J Muzokomba (P Tembani 81), L Katongomara Lloyd

Highlanders A Sibanda, S Munawa, R Kutsanzira, C Sibanda, P Moyo (W Ndiweni 26th min), M Ncube, B Kangwa, I Mapuranga, O Zibande (F Chindungwe 73rd mid), D Ndlovu, E Mudzingwa