Sports / Local
Bosso beat 8 men Triangle, shoots to the top
14 Nov 2013 at 02:46hrs | Views
Highlanders 1- 0 Triangle
KELVIN Kaindu kept a cool head as his opposite number Gishon Ntini lost his, and eventually the match which had been flagged as a key sign-post in Highlanders' path to a league and cup double.
Ozias Zibande struck a 115th minute winner in a match of high drama as Triangle finished with eight men after skipper Limited Chikafa and goalkeeper Brighton Chipula saw red before Chastern Ngondonga limped off injured late on.
Dynamos, who led Highlanders by two points and Harare City, who were ahead of the Bulawayo club by a point, had long kicked off their boots after frustrating draws in Harare when Zibande's diving header put Highlanders in the saddle at Barbourfields.
The significance of Zibande's goal in front of a partisan 6 000 fans yesterday will become clearer after Highlanders finish their league programme with an away trip to Harare City - held 0-0 by Motor Action at Sakubva - and a season-ending home clash with Shabanie Mine, who held Dynamos to a 1-1 draw at Rufaro.
While Ntini was looking deep into his negativity locker, Kaindu was plotting how to unlock Triangle's stubborn defence which was well-marshalled by the veteran David Sengu.
Just minutes before the flashpoint, Kaindu had thrown on Milton Ncube for the out-of-sorts Peter 'Rio' Moyo and thrown on Zibande for the profligate Master Masitara. But it would be well after the on-pitch skirmishes that Kaindu would get his reward, as Ncube found space on the left and crossed for Zibande who steered a diving header past Ashley Reyners, who had been brought on after Chipula's early shower.
The home side should have taken the lead four minutes into the game when Masimba Mambare sent in a cross which rolled past the face of goal with no teammates making an effort to run into the box.
Triangle, who rarely troubled the hosts, were on the back foot from the onset and it came as a surprise when their skipper Chikafa was booked in the ninth minute for a lunge on Mambare.
Just after the quarter-hour mark, Heritein Masuku inexplicably headed into the side netting off a Gabriel Nyoni cross. Nyoni then missed two glaring opportunities in the 24th and 26th minutes before Chipula did well to deny Masuku.
Mthulisi Maphosa also saw his curler tipped over for a corner by an alert Chipula as the half-time whistle approached.
Five minutes before the break, the visitors' striker Misheck Mburayi got into the referee's book for simulation when he went down easily in the box under a challenge. After the breather, Highlanders continued with their search for an opener but Mambare and Nyoni were guilty of taking turns to miss.
Triangle coach Ntini pulled out Walter Mukanga for William Mapfumo and the move paid off temporarily as they began to win midfield tussles.
As news filtered in that Shabanie Mine had equalised at Rufaro, Highlanders fans rose from their seats and that seemed to be what the doctor ordered as the players came off their slumber, realising the enormity of the opportunity.
Ntini tried to pull out Chikafa for Richard Kawondera in the 75th minute but the former Caps United player refused to be substituted.
Four minutes later, Chikaka was again called out but took his time fitting the armband on William Mapfumo, his deputy. Makeka gave Chikaka his second yellow and a red, ensuring the substitution could no longer be completed.
That did not go down well with the visitors as Chikaka led the protests, refusing to leave the pitch. On the touchline, Ntini was also beside himself with indignation as he beckoned his players to walk off.
Triangle's goalkeepers' coach Gift Muzadzi, showing a cool head, persuaded Ntini and the players to get back on the pitch, but just as the restart whistle went, Chipula dropped to the ground like he had just been picked out by a sniper.
Makeka had had enough of Triangle's antics, and two quick-fire yellow cards - including one for dissent - saw Chipula being sent to the stands.
Triangle were down to nine men, and worse would follow as Ntini was also sent off for abusing Tambudzai Tawengwa, the fourth official. By the time Chastern Ngondonga limped off with Triangle having used all their substitutes, it appeared there would be no winner. With just a minute left before the end of the game, Ncube whipped in a perfect cross from the left which Zibande headed down past Reyners.
Ntini insisted the referee had cost his side the match.
"We were hard done by the referee. He frustrated us from the first whistle," the disappointed coach said.
The Premier Soccer League is set to review the incidents in the match and Triangle could be hit with a hefty fine for their players and officials' conduct.
Teams
Highlanders: Ariel Sibanda, Simon Munawa, Bruce Kangwa, Eric Mudzingwa, Innocent Mapuranga, Mthulisi Maphosa, Peter Moyo (Milton Ncube, 69th minute), Masimba Mambare, Heritein Masuku (Bhekimpilo Ncube, 62nd minute), Master Masitara (Ozias Zibande, 53rd minute), Gabriel Nyoni
Triangle: Brighton Chipula, Brian Juwayeyi (Muchineripi Muneri, 56th minute), Norman Togara, Chastern Ngondonga, David Sengu, Charles Makoto, Walter Mukanga (William Mapfumo, 64th minute), Courage Denias, Pasca Manhanga (Ashley Reyners, 90th minute), Misheck Mburayi, Limited Chikafa
KELVIN Kaindu kept a cool head as his opposite number Gishon Ntini lost his, and eventually the match which had been flagged as a key sign-post in Highlanders' path to a league and cup double.
Ozias Zibande struck a 115th minute winner in a match of high drama as Triangle finished with eight men after skipper Limited Chikafa and goalkeeper Brighton Chipula saw red before Chastern Ngondonga limped off injured late on.
Dynamos, who led Highlanders by two points and Harare City, who were ahead of the Bulawayo club by a point, had long kicked off their boots after frustrating draws in Harare when Zibande's diving header put Highlanders in the saddle at Barbourfields.
The significance of Zibande's goal in front of a partisan 6 000 fans yesterday will become clearer after Highlanders finish their league programme with an away trip to Harare City - held 0-0 by Motor Action at Sakubva - and a season-ending home clash with Shabanie Mine, who held Dynamos to a 1-1 draw at Rufaro.
While Ntini was looking deep into his negativity locker, Kaindu was plotting how to unlock Triangle's stubborn defence which was well-marshalled by the veteran David Sengu.
Just minutes before the flashpoint, Kaindu had thrown on Milton Ncube for the out-of-sorts Peter 'Rio' Moyo and thrown on Zibande for the profligate Master Masitara. But it would be well after the on-pitch skirmishes that Kaindu would get his reward, as Ncube found space on the left and crossed for Zibande who steered a diving header past Ashley Reyners, who had been brought on after Chipula's early shower.
The home side should have taken the lead four minutes into the game when Masimba Mambare sent in a cross which rolled past the face of goal with no teammates making an effort to run into the box.
Triangle, who rarely troubled the hosts, were on the back foot from the onset and it came as a surprise when their skipper Chikafa was booked in the ninth minute for a lunge on Mambare.
Just after the quarter-hour mark, Heritein Masuku inexplicably headed into the side netting off a Gabriel Nyoni cross. Nyoni then missed two glaring opportunities in the 24th and 26th minutes before Chipula did well to deny Masuku.
Mthulisi Maphosa also saw his curler tipped over for a corner by an alert Chipula as the half-time whistle approached.
Five minutes before the break, the visitors' striker Misheck Mburayi got into the referee's book for simulation when he went down easily in the box under a challenge. After the breather, Highlanders continued with their search for an opener but Mambare and Nyoni were guilty of taking turns to miss.
As news filtered in that Shabanie Mine had equalised at Rufaro, Highlanders fans rose from their seats and that seemed to be what the doctor ordered as the players came off their slumber, realising the enormity of the opportunity.
Ntini tried to pull out Chikafa for Richard Kawondera in the 75th minute but the former Caps United player refused to be substituted.
Four minutes later, Chikaka was again called out but took his time fitting the armband on William Mapfumo, his deputy. Makeka gave Chikaka his second yellow and a red, ensuring the substitution could no longer be completed.
That did not go down well with the visitors as Chikaka led the protests, refusing to leave the pitch. On the touchline, Ntini was also beside himself with indignation as he beckoned his players to walk off.
Triangle's goalkeepers' coach Gift Muzadzi, showing a cool head, persuaded Ntini and the players to get back on the pitch, but just as the restart whistle went, Chipula dropped to the ground like he had just been picked out by a sniper.
Makeka had had enough of Triangle's antics, and two quick-fire yellow cards - including one for dissent - saw Chipula being sent to the stands.
Triangle were down to nine men, and worse would follow as Ntini was also sent off for abusing Tambudzai Tawengwa, the fourth official. By the time Chastern Ngondonga limped off with Triangle having used all their substitutes, it appeared there would be no winner. With just a minute left before the end of the game, Ncube whipped in a perfect cross from the left which Zibande headed down past Reyners.
Ntini insisted the referee had cost his side the match.
"We were hard done by the referee. He frustrated us from the first whistle," the disappointed coach said.
The Premier Soccer League is set to review the incidents in the match and Triangle could be hit with a hefty fine for their players and officials' conduct.
Teams
Highlanders: Ariel Sibanda, Simon Munawa, Bruce Kangwa, Eric Mudzingwa, Innocent Mapuranga, Mthulisi Maphosa, Peter Moyo (Milton Ncube, 69th minute), Masimba Mambare, Heritein Masuku (Bhekimpilo Ncube, 62nd minute), Master Masitara (Ozias Zibande, 53rd minute), Gabriel Nyoni
Triangle: Brighton Chipula, Brian Juwayeyi (Muchineripi Muneri, 56th minute), Norman Togara, Chastern Ngondonga, David Sengu, Charles Makoto, Walter Mukanga (William Mapfumo, 64th minute), Courage Denias, Pasca Manhanga (Ashley Reyners, 90th minute), Misheck Mburayi, Limited Chikafa
Source - chronicle
