Highlanders . . . . (1) 1 How Mine . . . . . . . . 0 Dynamos . . . . . . (2) 2 Caps United . . . . (0) 1
FORTUNE MBELE in BULAWAYO/ TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA in HARARE
THOMAS Chideu scored as early as the eighth minute for Highlanders to book a place in the final of the ZNA Charity Shield after beating How Mine at Barbourfields Stadium in a semi-final match yesterday.
Bosso will now meet Dynamos in the final after the Harare giants beat city rivals Caps United 2-1 in another semi-final at Rufaro Stadium yesterday.
The final will be played on a date to be announced.
Army Charities head of Secretariat Major Fabian Chitungo was happy with the crowd that thronged Barbourfields Stadium with an estimated 10 000 fans witnessing the exciting match.
“It was a good crowd. I hear in Harare it was a full house as well, but the crowd here was also good especially when we compare it to last year,” Major Chitungo said.
Highlanders put up a class act in the first 20 minutes playing a flowing game with good combinations coming from former Bantu Rovers players Obadiah Tarumbwa and Nqobizitha Masuku.
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Bosso’s goal was a counter-attack with Chideu picking up a loose ball in the centre and spotting Tarumbwa on the right.
Tarumbwa flighted a cross that fell on Bruce Kangwa who tried to pack a shot from inside the penalty box. His weak shot was finished off by an alert Chideu to beat How Mine goalkeeper Donovan Bernard.
Highlanders could have got the second in the 32nd minute, but Erick Mudzingwa’s header hit the cross-bar with Bernard a beaten man.
How Mine substitute Kudakwashe Musharu could have levelled the scoreline in the 72nd minute, but hit the side-netting after a defensive mix-up involving Bosso left-back Honest Moyo and central defender Douglas Sibanda.
Musharu, who came in for Mgcini Sibanda in the 65th minute changed the complexion of the game with another pair of fresh legs of attacking Wonder Sithole, who replaced an ineffective Charles Sibanda in the 66th minute.
Highlanders coach Bongani Mafu quickly countered that by bringing in Teenage Hadebe to the defence and moving skipper Felix Chindungwe to double-anchor with Mudzingwa.
At Rufaro, Dynamos started brightly and had moments of beautiful movements and passing in the first half in which Caps United looked jittery, lacking confidence on the ball.
Got punished five minutes into the match with powerful striker Patrick Khumbula who had earlier wasted a headed opportunity unleashing a rasping drive that beat goalkeeper Itai Chiwara after he was set up by Qadr Amin.
That goal deflated Caps United’s hopes as their opponents dominated for long periods. Ishmael Thindwa had a good opportunity moments later, but shot meekly at the keeper following a pass from Takudzwa Nyamupfukudza.
Dynamos doubled their lead on 15 minutes with Ghanaian midfielder Erick Opoku showing great skill-turning his marker before firing a stunning left-footer leaving Chiwara rooted to the spot.
Caps United refused to be cowed into submission as they regained confidence and threatened with some fine raids.
Their persistence paid dividends on 31 minutes with former Highlanders midfielder Hillary Madzivanyika toe-poking the ball home in a goal mouth scramble following a corner-kick by Tinotenda Muskwe.
Teams Highlanders: N Nyoni, W Chingodza, H Moyo, F Chindungwe, D Sibanda, E Mudzingwa, G Nyoni (T Hadebe 78th minute), N Masuku, T Chideu (KMutizwa 68th minute), B Kangwa, O Tarumbwa
How Mine: D Bernard, T Kumbuyani, J Chitereki, N Mukumbi, N Tachi, D Chafa, B Marere, C Sibanda (W Sithole 66th minute), N Ndale, M Sibanda (K Musharu 65th minute), T Masuku (M Mupera 83rd minute)
