Sports / Local
Flame Lily shocked by Bosso defeat
18 Sep 2015 at 06:35hrs | Views
Bosso
Highlanders 1-0 Flame Lily
CASTLE Lager Premier Soccer League debutants Flame Lily coach Backlyfield Chivenga yesterday expressed shock and dismay at losing to ailing Bulawayo giants in yesterday's tie at Barbourfields Stadium. Flame Lily are languishing third from the bottom on the league table on 19 points from 23 games, nine points behind Bosso, but Chivenga just could not fathom the defeat to a side that had easily become the whipping boys of the league.
"I'm shocked that we lost to Highlanders. We could have easily beaten them," said the youthful looking Chivenga in his post match interview. There was probably some grain of truth in his statement as Highlanders technical director Cosmos "Tsano" Zulu said it was a huge relief to collect maximum points after a barren run of 360 minutes.
"It's a huge relief coming after four losses on the trot," said Zulu, who delayed coming for the post match interview while celebrating with fans at the Soweto stand. Flame Lily were the first to ask questions when Macmillion Chigora broke free on the right flank, got into the box, but his final execution was well dealt with by Highlanders' goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda.
Two minutes before the quarter-hour mark, striker Obidiah Tarumbwa failed to use his experience when he let a Gabriel Nyoni cross fly past him instead of connecting with a diving header.
The ball then fell to King Nadolo, who quickly laid it to Valentine Ndaba, but he too skied his effort. Highlanders continued to enjoy the lion's share of possession and at one time exchanged 18 straight passes, which nevertheless yielded no goal as the passes were deep in their own half. Flame Lily seemed content with employing a wait and see game, hoping to catch Bosso on the counter.
Their approach almost punished Highlanders in added time of the first half after catching the home team's defenders stranded. Had Chigora been more composed, the first 45 minutes would have ended with the Bulawayo giants trailing. Highlanders started the second half playing more purposeful football as they searched for the elusive goal and it came in the 53rd minute in emphatic style.
Simon Munawa received a pass right on the penalty spot and he nicely controlled the ball with his back to goal, and in a flash unleashed a spectacular overhead kick into the roof of the net, leaving Lloyd Majarira in goal for Flame Lily clutching thin air. The goal somehow stung the visitors, who poured forward in numbers, but the Highlanders defence was, for once, uncompromising.
Bosso almost doubled their lead in the 76th minute after skipper Tarumbwa intelligently lobbed the ball over the Flame Lily defence and fell to Nyoni who charged towards goal and went for the kill after seeing Majarira advancing, but the keeper was equal to the task.
That was the last major action in the match besides the injury time sending off of Flame Lily's James Mkondiwa by Gweru-based referee Thomas Masaa for a second bookable offence.
"We played well with more possession than the opposition. Like I've always said, the road to success is under construction. I'm also happy with my goalkeeper (Sibanda); he has conceded just a single goal in two matches, which is not that bad," said Zulu.
After expressing his shock at losing to Highlanders, Chivenga said his side was punished for a silly mistake. "The relegation fight is still on," he said. Bosso remain rooted on 10th position on the table with 28 points, 10 points above league anchors Dongo Sawmill with seven games left. Teams
Highlanders: A Sibanda, S Munawa (O Tafira 86th min), K Nadolo (E Muzanenhamo 60th min), M Maphosa, O Tarumbwa, B Kangwa, F Chindungwe, E Mudzingwa, V Ndaba ( H Moyo (68THmin), P Muduhwa, G Nyoni
Unused Subs: J Daudi, G Makaruse, T Mtunzi, P Matutu
Flame Lily: L Majarira, G Phiri, B Chayambuka, B Chandisaita, J Mkandiwa, T Huwa, E Chidawaya, M Muponda (P Chinyama 73th min), V Mukudo, M Chigora (M Demera 78th min), J Chivasa (P Ngwenya 67th min)
Unused Subs: S Harrison, N Maroto, S Jimu, T Chiku
Results
Wednesday: Dynamos 5-1 Whawha, How Mine 0-3 FC Platinum, ZPC Kariba FC 2-0 Harare City, Hwange 0-1 Caps United, Chapungu 2-1 Tsholotsho, Triangle United 1-2 Chicken Inn
Thursday: Highlanders 1-0 Flame Lily, Buffaloes 1-0 Dongo Sawmill
CASTLE Lager Premier Soccer League debutants Flame Lily coach Backlyfield Chivenga yesterday expressed shock and dismay at losing to ailing Bulawayo giants in yesterday's tie at Barbourfields Stadium. Flame Lily are languishing third from the bottom on the league table on 19 points from 23 games, nine points behind Bosso, but Chivenga just could not fathom the defeat to a side that had easily become the whipping boys of the league.
"I'm shocked that we lost to Highlanders. We could have easily beaten them," said the youthful looking Chivenga in his post match interview. There was probably some grain of truth in his statement as Highlanders technical director Cosmos "Tsano" Zulu said it was a huge relief to collect maximum points after a barren run of 360 minutes.
"It's a huge relief coming after four losses on the trot," said Zulu, who delayed coming for the post match interview while celebrating with fans at the Soweto stand. Flame Lily were the first to ask questions when Macmillion Chigora broke free on the right flank, got into the box, but his final execution was well dealt with by Highlanders' goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda.
Two minutes before the quarter-hour mark, striker Obidiah Tarumbwa failed to use his experience when he let a Gabriel Nyoni cross fly past him instead of connecting with a diving header.
The ball then fell to King Nadolo, who quickly laid it to Valentine Ndaba, but he too skied his effort. Highlanders continued to enjoy the lion's share of possession and at one time exchanged 18 straight passes, which nevertheless yielded no goal as the passes were deep in their own half. Flame Lily seemed content with employing a wait and see game, hoping to catch Bosso on the counter.
Their approach almost punished Highlanders in added time of the first half after catching the home team's defenders stranded. Had Chigora been more composed, the first 45 minutes would have ended with the Bulawayo giants trailing. Highlanders started the second half playing more purposeful football as they searched for the elusive goal and it came in the 53rd minute in emphatic style.
Simon Munawa received a pass right on the penalty spot and he nicely controlled the ball with his back to goal, and in a flash unleashed a spectacular overhead kick into the roof of the net, leaving Lloyd Majarira in goal for Flame Lily clutching thin air. The goal somehow stung the visitors, who poured forward in numbers, but the Highlanders defence was, for once, uncompromising.
Bosso almost doubled their lead in the 76th minute after skipper Tarumbwa intelligently lobbed the ball over the Flame Lily defence and fell to Nyoni who charged towards goal and went for the kill after seeing Majarira advancing, but the keeper was equal to the task.
"We played well with more possession than the opposition. Like I've always said, the road to success is under construction. I'm also happy with my goalkeeper (Sibanda); he has conceded just a single goal in two matches, which is not that bad," said Zulu.
After expressing his shock at losing to Highlanders, Chivenga said his side was punished for a silly mistake. "The relegation fight is still on," he said. Bosso remain rooted on 10th position on the table with 28 points, 10 points above league anchors Dongo Sawmill with seven games left. Teams
Highlanders: A Sibanda, S Munawa (O Tafira 86th min), K Nadolo (E Muzanenhamo 60th min), M Maphosa, O Tarumbwa, B Kangwa, F Chindungwe, E Mudzingwa, V Ndaba ( H Moyo (68THmin), P Muduhwa, G Nyoni
Unused Subs: J Daudi, G Makaruse, T Mtunzi, P Matutu
Flame Lily: L Majarira, G Phiri, B Chayambuka, B Chandisaita, J Mkandiwa, T Huwa, E Chidawaya, M Muponda (P Chinyama 73th min), V Mukudo, M Chigora (M Demera 78th min), J Chivasa (P Ngwenya 67th min)
Unused Subs: S Harrison, N Maroto, S Jimu, T Chiku
Results
Wednesday: Dynamos 5-1 Whawha, How Mine 0-3 FC Platinum, ZPC Kariba FC 2-0 Harare City, Hwange 0-1 Caps United, Chapungu 2-1 Tsholotsho, Triangle United 1-2 Chicken Inn
Thursday: Highlanders 1-0 Flame Lily, Buffaloes 1-0 Dongo Sawmill
Source - chronicle
