DeMbare beat Bosso again

Sport
AS REFEREE Brighton Chimene blew to end the match at the National Sports Stadium yesterday, Highlanders players trudged off the field shoulders slumped, and faces full of frustration.

AS REFEREE Brighton Chimene blew to end the match at the National Sports Stadium yesterday, Highlanders players trudged off the field shoulders slumped, and faces full of frustration.

Washington-Pakamis-evades-a-tacle-from-Highlanders-defender-Dumisani-Ndlovu

TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA SPORTS CORRESPONDENT Dynamos . . . . . . . (1) 1 Highlanders . . . . . . . 0

Their hearts were broken. Their unbeaten start was brought to an end and the dream buried. Bosso had gone into the match with a proud record of being one of the only two teams without a defeat in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL)with ZPC Kariba.

They were determined to preserve that record which would have seen them registering the first league defeat of their old foes since 2006.

But Washington Pakamisa, who has been struggling in front of goal, dashed their hopes, striking home in 34 minutes – his first goal of the campaign.

The struggling Dynamos striker found space in a tussle for the ball with Highlanders defender Innocent Mapuranga before beating goalkeeper Njabulo Nyoni with a powerful shot to send the Dynamos faithfuls into delirium.

Highlanders were missing goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya, defender Milton Ncube and midfielder Peter “Rio” Moyo who have signed for South African clubs, but not even the presence of star winger Kuda Mahachi who is also set to leave for Mamelodi Sundowns could rescue the game.

Bosso coach Kevin Kaindu threw on goalkeeper Nyoni sacrificing Aerial Sibanda, but the goalkeeper appeared nervous in his first match and the way he commanded his goal area left the defence exposed on several occasions.

The Bosso defence, one of the best in the PSL having allowed fewer goals, was time and again being called to clear their lines as the Dynamos attack threatened with some dangerous raids.

In one of those raids, skipper Mapuranga saved Highlanders with a good clearance in a goalmouth mêlée following a well-taken corner-kick by Ocean Mushure on 20 minutes.

Dynamos midfielder Stephen Alimenda, also a former Highlanders player, partnered Devon Chafa and the two established their superiority in the middle of the park with Joel Ngodzo and Simon Munawa playing second fiddle.

However, in the second half, Kaindu made some substitutions pulling off Mahachi who was by his standards off key, for Valentine Ndaba with Gabriel Nyoni coming off for Ozias Zibande while Knox Mtizwa replaced Ngodzo.

Kalisto Pasuwa made some substitutions bringing on Tawanda Muparati after five months on the sidelines, for the injured Chafa with Tichaona Mabvura also coming in for Murape Murape and Simba Sithole replacing Anesu Gondo.

The substitutions appeared to work well for Highlanders as they gained control towards the end, but their attackers could not put away the few chances they created.

Dynamos defended resolutely towards the end with their fans revelling in Highlanders’ moment of anguish.

Kaindu looked dejected.

“It’s painful. It’s not what we expected. It’s painful. We wanted to keep on marching, but we lacked character and conceded that goal,” he said.

His opposite number Pasuwa was happy to collect maximum points.

“We are happy with the victory. We needed the three points. I am also happy for Pakamisa. He did very well,” he said.

Dynamos moved to third place with 22 points from 12 matches while Highlanders dropped to fourth place with 21 points from the same number of matches.

Teams Dynamos: A Mukandi, B Moyo, O Mushure, P Jaure, T Ndlovu, S Alimenda, D Chafa (T Muparati 77th min), M Murape(T Mabvura 56th min), W Pakamisa, A Gondo (S Sithole 84th min)

Highlanders: N Nyoni, S Munawa, B Kangwa, I Mapuranga, D Ndlovu, E Mudzingwa, W Ndiweni, J Ngodzo (K Mtizwa 71st min), K Mahachi (V Ndaba 70th min), C Sibanda, G Nyoni (O Zibande 56th min)