HIGHLANDERS . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 1
NGEZI PLATINUM STARS . . .(1) 1
SUBSTITUTE Reason Sibanda rose from the bench to score his sixth goal of the season and salvage a point for an unlucky Highlanders against a compact Ngezi Platinum Stars in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Barbourfields Stadium.
Sibanda's glancing header after some enterprising play by another substitute, Tendai Muvuti, beat a diving Ngezi goalkeeper, Darlington Murasiranwa, at the bottom corner to send Bosso fans into raptures after 76 minutes of action.
Earlier, Ngezi took the lead in the first half after Tinashe Mavhudzi capitalised on a mistake by Arthur Ndlovu, who mistimed his clearance instead of allowing goalkeeper Reward Muza to gather the ball in the 25th minute.
Mavhudzi had the easiest of tasks to tap it home in an empty net.
Try Ncube, the Highlanders coach, was happy with how his team responded after last week's morale-sapping defeat to Caps United.
"I think we played better compared to our last game. We had a good first half that was spoiled by that mistake, which cost us a goal. We could have equalised, but hit the crossbar. We are very happy about the fightback shown by the boys," said Ncube.
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Takesure Chiragwi, the Ngezi coach, was also satisfied with the point gained. "We did very well. I just want to applaud the players for their resistance and hard work. It's very difficult to play Highlanders at home, especially considering their current position on the log. We just need to take this performance into our next game," Chiragwi said.
The draw took Highlanders to 29 points after 24 matches, although they remained ninth on the log. Ngezi also remained fifth, with 39 points after 24 matches.
Highlanders made several changes from the team that lost to Caps United last week, with Luckmore Mutumbi starting at centre back, Melikhaya Ncube retained the captaincy of the side, while Prince Ndlovu was deployed wide on the right to fill the void left by Mafious Chihweta. Brighton Ncube was selected ahead of goalscorer Sibanda, with Panashe Mushonga also handed his first start of the season.
For Ngezi, Nyasha Gurunde, Adam Ngwena and Farai Madhananga started for the team, from the side that impressively beat TelOne 2-1 at Baobab Stadium last week.
Highlanders hit the crossbar twice in the first and second halves. First, it was Melikhaya Ncube after he was set up by Ndlovu, who beat his marker and laid a pass for the midfielder, but his thunderous strike hit the underside of the woodwork as Bosso sought to go to the break on level terms.
In the second half, Malvern Hativagoni also fired with aplomb from outside the box, and it struck the underside of the bar moments before they found the equaliser.
RESULTS
Bikita Minerals 2-1 CAPS United
Herentals 3-1 Kwekwe United
