HIGHLANDERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 1
BIKITA MINERALS . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0
HIGHLANDERS picked up their third set of three points as they dismissed Bikita Minerals in a lukewarm Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday.
The hosts scored the solitary goal of the game in the 18th minute with a powerful shot by Brighton Ncube from inside the penalty box after he was sent through by Reason Sibanda.
The duo, clicked well in the game as two minutes earlier, it was Sibanda who could have found the nets for Highlanders, hitting the crossbar with a stinger, set up by Ncube with an intelligent pass while the latter appeared to be in a better position to score.
Highlanders have won all their three matches against Kwekwe United, Caps United and Bikita Minerals yesterday at home and are yet to win on the road.
It was Ncube’s fourth goal of the season after he netted a hattrick in the 4-0 victory over Kwekwe United.
But in the match yesterday, Bikita Minerals quickly turned on the heat on Highlanders with Tadiwanashe Murasiramwa harassing the Highlanders defence, exposing a jittery Arthur Ndlovu in the centre, with the absence of Mason Mushore and Melikhaya Ncube being felt in the hosts’ midfield.
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Tadiwa Nyakope’s beautiful header on the half hour mark from a corner kick was saved by goalkeeper Reward Muza and on the rebound, Spenser Musarira’s effort went wide as the visitors piled pressure on Highlanders.
Bikita Minerals had an upper hand to the end of the first half but Highlanders coach Kelvin Kaindu introduced Gillian Nyathi to stabilise the Bosso midfield in the second half and the visitors were stifled in their attack.
Young Mafious Chihweta came in for Never Rauzhi in the 77th minute and had some brilliant flashes on the left wing, criss-crossing into the centre at will as Highlanders mounted pressure on Bikita, but they would not find the desired goal.
The Bulawayo giants held on to that solitary goal to earn the maximum points.
Kaindu was happy with the maximum points.
“What is important for us is that we collected maximum points, although it was difficult game considering our statistics against Bikita Minerals last year,” he said.
“Today, it’s good that we looked very good in the final third and were let down by our defending.”
He regretted the absence of Mushore and Ncube who missed the match due to suspension.
Bikita Minerals gaffer Wilson Mutekede is excited with the way his side is playing, but disappointed his boys are not scoring created chances.
“We have been quite creative in terms of open play and try to play football and win matches, but converting those chances has been our major undoing,” he said.
“Basically, all the games that we have played, there is no game that we have not created more than four chances.
“Again today it was the same situation.”
Teams
Highlanders: R Muza, T Dube, A Ndlovu, M Mushore (H Ncube, 57’), R Sibanda, M Hativagoni, M Sibanda (T Muvuti, 57’), B Ncube, N Rauzhi (M Chihweta 77’), D Mukuli (G Nyathi, 46’) L Mutumbi
Bikita Minerals: T Temera, B Kagudu (R Tayedza, 77’), M Munzabwa, K Mukuva, T Nyakope, L Manyuchi, B Bera, S Mugariri (F Banda, 56’), T Kusinyera, J Ruzive, T Murasiramwa
