Bosso lose

Sport
How Mine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0) 1 Highlanders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0

How Mine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0) 1 Highlanders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0

FORTUNE MBELE SPORTS REPORTER

IT was all doom and gloom for Highlanders at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday as How Mine completed a double over the Bulawayo giants in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) match.

In the first half of the season, How Mine — then under Philani Mabhena — stunned Bosso 2-1 at the same venue.

A second-half goal by Bosso reject Warren Dube five minutes after the break was all that How Mine needed for coach Philani “Beefy” Ncube to claim his first victory over Bosso since he came into the PSL in 2008.

The defeat has put Bosso in a tight corner in the race for the elusive PSL title as log leaders Dynamos turned up the heat on Caps United with a 1-0 win at Rufaro Stadium to stretch the lead to 41 points.

Bosso remains on 37 points, two points behind second-placed Harare City (39 points) who were held to a 2-2 draw by Triangle at Gibbo Stadium.

Highlanders lost it tactically to How Mine and an elated Beefy was over the moon after his side completed a double over Bosso.

“There is always a first-time I have said. We were better on strategy although I would say Highlanders were on top tactically. Our strategy was to catch them on the break and we did just that. What we just need to do now is to continue with our consistency. Beating Highlanders was a bonus for me,” he said.

Bosso dominated the game from the onset, but lacked precision and purpose for the entire first half with the midfield suspect and the main culprit being Mthulisi Maphosa. Almost all his passes went wild.

Against the run of play in the 50th minute, Simbarashe Sithole broke loose on the left and sent in a cross which found an unmarked Dube in the penalty box. He controlled the ball and shot past Bosso goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya with ease, silencing the multitude of Highlanders supporters.

After that goal Bosso played a disjointed game while Beefy’s side parked the bus, content with that goal.

Highlanders’ substitutions were poor and the game fizzled into a drab affair in the second half.

Coach Kelvin Kaindu admitted that his replacements in the second half were not up to scratch.

“It is unfortunate that we have given away three points and the race is slipping away from us.

The introduction of the substitutes did not change the complexion of the game, but if we had scored earlier maybe it would have been good for us,” a visibly disappointed Kaindu said.

Kaindu brought in Njabulo “Tshiki” Ncube for Maphosa in the 58th minute, Heritein Masuku in the 63rd minute for Bhekimpilo Ncube while Master Masitara came in for Masimba Mambare in the 75th minute, but the game just remained flat for Highlanders with How Mine defending and depending on counter-raids.

Bosso could have scored as early as the second minute, but Gabriel Nyoni missed a sitter with only goalkeeper Ephraim Mazarura to beat from a Bruce Kangwa cross.

Bhekimpilo wasted another chance with only Mazarura to beat in the 58th minute when he skied his effort.

The former Warriors goalkeeper shined for How Mine with a save in the 67th minute from a Lawson Nkomo dead ball situation.

Teams

How Mine: E Mazarura, B Dube, K Banda, H Dick (N Mukumbi 76th minute), G Banda, X Moyo (Q Sibanda 53rd minute), M Mupera, W Dube, S Sithole, E Nkulungo (T Masuku 27th minute), T January

Highlanders: M Diya, L Nkomo, B Kangwa, D Ndlovu, I Mapuranga, S Munawa, M Maphosa (N Ncube 58th minute), P Moyo, M Mambare (M Masitara 75th minute), B Ncube (H Masuku 63rd minute), G Nyoni