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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
Highlanders 2-0 Whawha. WASTEFUL Highlanders FC ended their four- match winless streak with a 2-0 victory over prisons side Whawha in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League encounter at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday.

Veteran striker Obidiah Tarumbwa, who was guilty of spurning countless scoring opportunities, put Bosso ahead in the 24th minute after ghosting in from the blind side to tap home an inviting Bruce Kangwa cross from the left.

However, celebrations from both the players and supporters were subdued as Highlanders had had a sluggish start, playing second fiddle to the visitors in the early stages of the game.

Highlanders were hard-pressed for a win to appease their demanding hardcore fans and close the gap on the pacesetters despite missing seven regulars, skipper Felix Chindungwe, Teenage Hadebe, Nqobizitha Masuku, Thomas Chideu, Ozias Zibande, Douglas Sibanda and Gabriel Nyoni.

The former champions survived an early scare from the prison warders who could have taken the lead as early as the second minute, but an unmarked Michael Mageja opted to set up a teammate instead of directing his header at goal.

The crossbar then came to Highlanders’ rescue in the 12th minute when Roy Useni beat Bosso goalie Ariel Sibanda with a clever chip.

Shaken by Whawha’s determination, Highlanders woke up from their slumber and Tarumbwa opened the scoring shortly after Knox Mutizwa had missed a sitter. Mutizwa, who was playing as Tarumbwa’s striking partner, had done all the hard work by beating his marker in the box only to curl his effort over the bar with Whawha goalkeeper Matthew Wurayayi stranded.

But the miss of the day was produced by Tarumbwa on the half-hour mark when he headed off target after getting onto the end of a good cross by evergreen right back Webster Chingodza.

Mutizwa and Rahman Kutsanzira also had clear cut opportunities to register their names on the score sheet before the break but missed.

Highlanders returned from the break a more determined side, with their players’ attitude much livelier than in the first stanza. Unlike in the first half when Bosso struggled to string even three complete passes together, the second half saw the Bulawayo giants playing at a high tempo with some quick and neat passes.

Highlanders’ Simon Munawa forced Wurayayi to dive full-length to punch the ball out for a corner.

Just after the hour-mark Wurayayi produced a top-drawer save, going airborne to tip over a Chingodza cross intended for Tarumbwa.

There was nothing the Whawha goalie could have done to stop Mutizwa’s 66th minute goal which ejected Bosso fans from their seats, sparking wild celebrations.

One supporter couldn’t hold his joy and jumped onto the pitch to hug the Bosso players, but that move proved costly as he was arrested and whisked away by the no-nonsense anti-riot cops.

Mutizwa started the move that resulted in the goal by dispossessing a Whawha midfielder just after the centre line before quickly threading a pass to Tarumbwa on the right.

Tarumbwa unselfishly laid it onto the path of Mutizwa for a simple tap-in.

The second half belonged to Highlanders and their opponents did not have any goal attempt, leaving Bosso keeper Sibanda a mere spectator.

Tarumbwa was denied a brace by the crossbar after beating keeper Wurayayi in the 73rd minute.

Four minutes before the end of the match, an unmarked Chingodza headed Kangwa’s cross over the bar from close range after some brilliant interchange of passes by Bosso players.

“We paid dearly for missing the chances we created in the first minutes, and playing a big team like Highlanders, if you don’t utilise your opportunities, you pay dearly for that,” said Whawha coach Lloyd Mutasa.

Highlanders assistant coach Mandla Mpofu said: “We needed this win more than anything and credit to the boys who fought hard for this win. No doubt, this victory is a confidence booster for our boys going into the next match against FC Platinum and others to come.”

Teams
Highlanders: Ariel Sibanda, Webster Chingodza, Bruce Kangwa, Erick Mudzingwa, Honest Moyo, Mthulisi Maphosa (Godfrey Makaruse, 71st minute), Simon Munawa, Welcome Ndiweni (King Nadolo, 66th minute), Rahman Kutzanzira, Knox Mutizwa, Obidiah Tarumbwa

Whawha: Matthew Wurayayi, Blessing Chidzero, Paddington Maburutse, Blessed Chikwekwete, Marshal Machazane, Gibson Madamombe, Silvester Nhamo, Roy Useni (Takudzwa Jukulile, 62nd minute), Cleopas Kapupurika, Michael Mageja (Albert Matewu, 40th minute), Caleb Masocha (Kenneth Bhuka, 74th minute)

Results
Saturday: Chapungu 1-0 Flame Lily, ZPC Kariba 0-3 FC Platinum, Buffaloes 2-1 Harare City, Hwange 1-0 Chicken Inn

Yesterday: Highlanders 2-0 Whawha, Triangle United 1-2 How Mine, Dongo Sawmill 0-2 Caps United

Table
P W D L F A GD Pts

Chicken Inn 11 7 2 2 16 8 8 23

Chapungu 11 6 3 2 12 7 5 21

Triangle United 11 6 2 3 26 10 16 20

Dynamos 10 6 2 2 9 5 4 20

How Mine 11 5 3 3 16 9 7 18

FC Platinum 11 5 1 5 20 13 7 17

Highlanders 11 5 2 4 10 7 3 17

Caps United 11 4 4 3 8 12 -4 16

ZPC Kariba 11 3 5 3 18 17 1 14

Harare City 11 3 5 3 11 11 0 14

Hwange 11 2 7 2 11 12 -1 13

Buffaloes 11 2 6 3 8 13 -5 12

Tsholotsho FC 10 2 3 5 5 9 -4 9

Flame Lily 11 2 3 6 7 15 -8 9

Whawha 11 2 2 7 7 25 -18 8

Dongo Sawmills 11 0 4 7 6 16 -10 4