FLYING high after their historic win over Dynamos to lift the ZNA Charities Cup last weekend, Highlanders were brought down to earth after a penalty shootout loss to How Mine at Barbourfields yesterday to bow out of the Chibuku Super Cup.
BY FORTUNE MBELE
HOW MINE . . . . . . . . . (1) 1 HIGHLANDERS . . . . . (1) 1 How Mine win 4-3 in penalty shootout
How Mine goalkeeper Donovan Bernard was the hero of the day as he saved Bosso’s last spot-kick by new signing Thembinkosi Simango on his debut for the Bulawayo football giants.
The match had ended in a 1-1 deadlock in regulation time. Heritein Masuku’s shot deflected off Highlanders defender Felix Chindungwe to give How Mine an 18th minute lead.
But Highlanders, who beat Dynamos 1-0 last Sunday, equalised in the 31st minute through Obadiah Tarumbwa from a free kick just outside the box which left Bernard a puzzled spectator.
Bosso played the last few minutes of the match with 10 men after right-back Webster Chingodza was pulled out injured in the 88th minute when his team had already exhausted the substitutions.
During the penalty shootout, How Mine’s Devon Chafa, Timothy January, Masuku and Mernard Mupera converted their spot kicks while Wonder Sithole’s kick hit the cross-bar.
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For Highlanders, Tarumbwa, Nqobizitha Masuku and King Nadolo converted theirs before Tendai Ngulube missed and Simango was kept out by Donovan.
How Mine gaffer Luke Masomere was over the moon at progressing to the next stage of the tournament but was not happy with his opponents’ goal.
“I am really happy we have progressed although it was level in terms of match handling. The referee signalled for an indirect kick but allowed their (Highlanders) goal to stand when it was taken directly. But, well, I have only lost once in penalties to AmaZulu when I was coaching Hwange and I was always confident when we were going to the penalty shootout that we were going to progress,” Masomere said.
Bosso mentor Bongani Mafu might have himself to blame for letting the greenhorn Simango take the last spot-kick, but the coach defended the player saying some senior players had chickened out.
“We wasted a lot of chances that we created in the first 15 minutes. We should have won the match in the first 15 minutes. Penalties are a lotto and can go either way. It is particularly disappointing to lose in this very important cup. We are very sad to have lost. Penalties are about how a player feels inside,” Mafu said.
The game was a balanced affair with Bosso wasteful in the first half, but it was the combination of How Mine’s Kuda Musharu and Godfrey Nguwodzawo who were a marvel to watch as they tore Highlanders apart especially in the second half.
Highlanders made an early substitution, taking out an effective and wasteful Valentine Ndaba for Simango in the 42nd minute while injured Thembani Masuku was pulled out for January in the 28th minute for How Mine.
TEAMS HOW MINE: D Bernard, T Kumbuyani, M Gutu, D Chafa, H Masuku, N Mukumbi, G Nguwodzawo (M Mupera 86’), N Tachi, K Musharu, T Masuku (T January, 28’), W Sithole HIGHLANDERS: N Nyoni, W Chingodza (injured, 88’), S Munawa (N Masuku, 79’), R Kutsanzira (G Makaruse, 63’), K Nadolo, O Tarumbwa, B Kangwa, F Chindungwe, T Ngulube, H Moyo, V Ndaba (T Simango, 42’).
Tsipa given his marching orders
