Bosso free-fall continues

Shabanie 2 - 1 Highlanders
Highlanders' free-fall continued yesterday when they crumbled under the sweltering heat and onslaught of a determined Shabanie Mine who beat them 2-1 at Maglas Stadium in Zvishavane.

Smart Muchabayiwa and speedy winger Xolani Ncube's well taken goals in either half ensured that the Chinda Boys live to fight another day in the premiership as they bid to survive the chop.

Shabanie's hard fought victory over Highlanders makes their penultimate game against Triangle a must-win and their head coach Jairos Tapera has already declared war on Triangle.

"Destiny is now in our hands. If we had lost today then we would have kissed goodbye to premiership football. After this win focus is now on devouring Triangle at Gibbo. We have to do the job ourselves and not look for favours from other teams," said Tapera.

Highlanders coach Mark Mathe bemoaned his team's defensive frailties after they lost for the sixth time in seven games.

"The defence has let us down badly this season. If it were not for the defensive blunders in the second half of the season, we could have fought all the way in the league. Today we let in silly goals when we were in control of the game and that deflated us," said Mathe.

On the field of play yesterday, Shabanie Mine were full of running from the onset, constantly probing the Bosso goal.

In the 14th minute the Chinda Boys surged into the lead when Muchabayiwa rose high to connect with Wellington Kamudyariwa's perfectly flighted corner kick, beating the Bosso goalkeeper all systems out.

The goal deflated Highlanders who had prior to that goal started to claw their way into the game.

With the one goal cushion, Shabanie then began to control the midfield with veteran Rowan Nenzou and Wellington Kamudyariwa ripping apart the Bosso defence with some incisive defence-splitting passes which their strikers failed to convert.

Highlanders then came to life in the second half, forcing 10 corner kicks and a number of crucial saves from Shabanie shot-stopper London Zulu.

But as has become the norm of late, Highlanders gave away another sloppy goal at a time when they were now in command of the game when they allowed Xolani Ncube to go on a 45-metre solo run from the halfway line into the box before confidently curling his shot into far right corner.

Bosso however remained resilient with substitute Simba Sithole and King Nadolo on song.

Highlanders' incessant pressure finally paid off in the 73rd minute when Gabriel Nyoni's powerful header off a Knox Mutizwa beat London Zulu all systems out.

Gabriel Nyoni goal would set the tone for a nervy last 17 minutes for Shabanie as Bosso were now enjoying a one man advantage following the expulsion of Muchabayiwa for an off the ball incident.

Shabanie had left back Brighton Pamhirwa and goalkeeper London Zulu to thank however, with the duo smothering Nadolo and Sithole's goalbound efforts to safety as the hosts clung onto their lead.

The wild celebration by the Shabanie players and fans when the match referee Pedzisayi Chadya blew to end the contest summed up the desperation and anxiety within Maglas.