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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
Highlanders 1- 1 Harare City
BULAWAYO giants,Highlanders who drew1-1 with Harare City yesterday were denied what appeared to be genuine goal.

A top referee who attended the league match said second assistant referee Emmanuel Mugwagwa should have allowed a late Simon Munawa goal to stand instead of ruling it for an offside.

“That player was not offside because the ball was an in-swinger from a free kick and how do you then call for an offside? Highlanders are justified to feel robbed,” said the referee who cannot be named for ethical reasons.

The denied goal would have seen Highlanders take a 2-1 lead, having equalised through Kasimero Chimbadzwa off a goalmouth melee.

Bosso, who had a poor first half but came from the breather a changed side, fell behind in the 20th minute through Martin Vengesayi who reacted swiftly to a through ball by Edwin Madhanaga who however must thank Felix Chindungwe who failed to cut the ball from the right for Vengesayi to beat a drawn out Ariel Sibanda.

At the time Bosso were down to 10 men following an injury to Tendai Ndlovu who clashed with teammate Eric Mudzingwa as they went for an aerial ball. Ndlovu was replaced by Adrian Silla as Bosso made some tactical changes to their formation, dropping Mudzingwa to the central defence to partner Chindungwe.

Highlanders could have drawn level in the 33rd minute but striker Knox Mutizwa failed to punish the visitors’ goalkeeper Tafadzwa Dube who had fumbled with the ball allowing Mutizwa to take the ball but the 2015 Golden Boot winner made a mess of the ball and was guilty of being selfish.

Harare City were clearly the better side especially in the midfield where Munawa was totally out of the match and was not complementing the good work being done by the onfire Rahman Kutsanzira and King Nadolo.

Highlanders coach Erol Akbay pulled out Ralph Matema who had picked up a knock on his troublesome knee and replaced him with Chimbadzwa in the 46th minute.

Bosso began to dictate the pace but were hugely let down by Munawa. Sensing danger Taurai Mangwiro, the Harare City coach, pulled out big Francesco Zekumbawire for William Manondo.

It was however Highlanders who found the target in the 71st minute when Chimbadzwa’s shot off a Benson Phiri cross sailed into an empty net after Dube failed to cut the Phiri cross.

“We should’ve killed the match as a contest had we utilised our chances, we allowed Highlanders to come back into the match,” said Mangwiro.

A disappointed Akbay blamed their poor first half performance as the reason for the draw.

“Our first half was very poor. The players were moving as if they were carrying a 50kg load but we came back a changed side in the second half,” said Akbay who said the absence of young Prince Dube and Bruce Kangwa was hugely felt.

 

Highlanders: Ariel Sibanda, Benson Phiri, Honest Moyo, Tendai Ndlovu (A Silla 21stmin), Felix Chindungwe, Erick

Mudzingwa, King Nadolo, Rahman Kutsanzira, Ralph Matema (Kasimero Chimbadzwa 46th min), Simon Munawa

Unused Subs: Brian Banda, Peter Muduwa, Tendai Ngulube, Njabulo Nyoni

Harare City:

Tafadzwa Dube, Jimmy Tigere, Arnold Chiveya, Raymond Uchena, Nyenye Diro

Themba Ndlovu, Edwin Madhanaga, Martin Vengesai( Crispen Dickson 81st min), Raphael Manuvire ( Gilroy Chimwemwe 88th min) Francesco Zekumbawire (William Manondo 71st min), Kudakwashe Kumwala

Unused Subs: Benson Maglasi, Leanrmore Muyambo, Blessing Moyo