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Oscar Rusenga in Chisumbanje

GreenFuel 1-1 Highlanders

LYNOTH Chikuhwa scored his 7th goal of the season late in the game cancelling out Bruno Mtigo’s first-half-strike as 10-man Highlanders held Greenfuel in a Castle Lager Premiership match at Greenfuel Arena yesterday.Greenfuel were by far the better side in the opening half as Kelvin Kaindu’s men failed to cope with fast-passing football under the unusual scorching heat.

Munyaradzi Nyenye, who played right back in place of injured Reginald Chinemo, was in fantastic form and his flank was lively as he gave Marvellous Chigumira a first-half to forget.

Nyenye overlapped in the 15th minute and delivered a beautiful cross, but Bruno Mtigo, who also started the game after a long time on the sidelines, failed to get enough contact on the ball as Bosso goalkeeper Raphael Pitisi escaped unpunished.

Highlanders were again caught on the break as James Nguluve outpaced his marker with a beautiful run from the halfway line before lobbing the ball over Pitisi to give Mtigo the easiest of chances as he headed his effort into an open net from close                                                                                   range just after the half-hour mark.

Boys Dzenharo, as GreenFuel are known by its faithful, exploited Bosso’s weakness and could have doubled their lead before half time, but Nguluve shot straight at Pitisi with the goals wide open after benefitting from Tinotenda Meke’s pass two minutes before the breather.

Pitisi’s block fell onto the feet of Meke, who was flat-footed and ran out of ideas before Brian Mlotshwa cleared the ball and avoided further damage.
The second-half was action-packed as both teams produced some fluid passing game well controlled by Mutare-based referee Trinity Dirwai. The only blemish for the visitors came just after the hour-mark when the last man in defence young left back Mvelo Khoza took one for the team committing a professional foul on Mtigo, who was through on goal.

Referee Dirwai was within touching distance and that made his decision easy as he awarded the hosts a freekick as well as a straight red to Khoza. Greenfuel capitalised on their numerical advantage and created numerous chances, but Pitisi stood tall thwarting everything that  came his way keeping his team in the game as well as giving his teammates the belief of a comeback.

Kelvin Kaindu

Highlanders coach Kaindu made some tactical substitutions adding fresh legs and his team surely doubled their effort and were eventually rewarded for their hard work, scoring a beautiful equalising goal with seven minutes of regulation time remaining as Chikuhwa extended his tally as the league’s top goal scorer. Greenfuel sought to regain the lead and piled pressure on Bosso but Pitisi proved to be the difference saving what looked like a sure goal from Mtigo right at the death.

Bosso were happy with the point and Kaindu conceded that Greenfuel stretched them to the limits.“Of all the draws that we have picked up, I think this is the draw we deserved.

“We had to play the last 30 minutes one man down after that send-off. The opponents played a good game and among all the games we have played they pushed us and made us work for the point,” said Kaindu.GreenFuel assistant coach, Taurai Mangwiro was happy with his team’s progress, but was somehow disappointed with the result after his side missed a glut of chances.