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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
Highlanders 1-2 Caps United
THE adage “experience is the best teacher” aptly describes Caps United’s victory against Highlanders FC yesterday as two of their seasoned strikers Roderick Mutuma and Leonard Tsipa immaculately combined to knock Bosso out of the Bob91 Super Cup.

Mutuma who sensationally crossed the great capital divide joining the Green Machine from Dynamos last month, proved to be the force driving Caps United, finding the opener for his team a minute before halftime at Barbourfields Stadium.

Tsipa, a 36th minute substitute for an ineffective Kudzai Nyamufukudze sold a dummy to Bosso’s centreback Douglas Sibanda, with Mutuma doing well to shield the ball from Teenage Hadebe and Honest Moyo before slotting past an advancing Highlanders goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda.

That goal silenced Bosso supporters whose team had dominated play for the opening 30 minutes and after that the visitors took control of the game.

Highlanders had from the first whistle looked compact at the back with Douglas and Hadebe bottling Mutuma while Tendai Ngulube and Nqobizitha Masuku were firmly in control in midfield, winning most duels.

The inter-change of passes by Bosso ignited support from their fans and this seemed to prop confidence in the players with striker Thomas Chideu even trying long range shots after beautiful build-ups.

Highlanders’ best chance in the first stanza fell to Gabriel Nyoni who got to the end of a sumptuous pass by Masuku in the 19th minute but the former failed to beat Caps United’s goalkeeper Victor Twaliki with a bender.

Five minutes later, Nyoni embarked on a solo run leaving three Caps United players for dead on the left side but Steven Makatuka recovered well to head away the striker’s goal-bound shot.

Sensing danger, Caps United’s coach Mark Harrison made a tactical change just after the half-hour mark bringing in Tsipa, a move that changed the complexion of their game as Mutuma dropped from being an outright striker to a decoy. The former Dynamos forward dropped to fetch the ball from midfield and with a free role, he proved a handful for Highlanders.

A minute before scoring the opener, Caps United were lucky not to concede a penalty after their central defender Justice Jangano used his hand to clear the ball under challenge from Nyoni in the box, but referee Philani Ncube and his assistant Faith Mloyi missed the incident.

As fate would have it, Caps United built their attack from the left side where Moses Muchenje threaded a pass in the box which was meant for Tsipa but the latter sold a dummy and the ball landed on Mutuma who coolly slotted home.

At the stroke of halftime Highlanders were unlucky not to draw level as Chideu’s effort went across the face of goal and found no taker with Twaliki out of action.

Caps United returned from the breather still a more determined side than Bosso and doubled their lead through Takudzwa Mahori whose grounder to the far post beat a diving Ariel.

Highlanders tried to fight back but found Caps United water tight at the back.

A blunder by Twaliki in the 71st minute allowed Obadiah Tarumbwa to get a consolation goal for Highlanders.

The Caps United goalkeeper miscued his effort and passed the ball to Tarumbwa who gladly replied by chipping it into an empty net. In an apparent bid to cover up for his schoolboy blunder, Twaliki went to the ground claiming that he had been hit by a missile thrown from the Soweto end.

The incident led to a 12-minute stoppage as Caps United coach Harrison called his players to the touchline threatening a walk-out. Makepekepe players appeared to be divided as the likes of Ronald Pfumbidzai, Hardlife Zvirekwi and Moses Muchenje wanted to go back but Mutuma and company were against that.

When play resumed, Caps United supporters at the Mpilo end threw missiles at Ariel and play had to stop for another minute.

“I was concerned with the safety of my players after that goal. However, I must commend my players for a good and disciplined display because Highlanders were better than us in the first 30 minutes but we held on. After that we controlled proceedings and I feel we deserved the victory,” said Harrison.

Highlanders’ coach Bongani Mafu said poor finishing let them down.

“We have to devise means of turning dominance into goals. Even when we enjoyed possession, we only had two attempts at goal which is not good at all. They had two chances which they made use of. We were punished for overplaying the ball,” said Mafu.

He was pleased with his back four of Hadebe, Douglas, Webster Chingodza and Honest Moyo who he said given time will be a formidable combination.

Highlanders: Ariel Sibanda, Webster Chingodza, Honest Moyo, Teenage Hadebe, Douglas Sibanda, Tendai Ngulube, Nqobizitha Masuku, Rahman Kutsanzira (Knox Mutizwa 56th minute), Bruce Kangwa (Godfrey Makaruse 84th minute), Thomas Chideu, Gabriel Nyoni (Obidiah Tarumbwa)

Caps United: Victor Twaliki, Hardlife Zvirekwi, Ronald Pfumbidzai, Steven Makatuka, Justice Jangano, Leonard Fiyado (Crispen Machisi 67th minute), Moses Muchenje, Dominic Mukandi, Takudzwa Mahori, Roderick Mutuma, Kudzai Nyamufukudze (Leonard Tsipa 36th minute)