Chapungu, Bosso in lukewarm affair

Chapungu  1 - 1 Highlanders
CHAPUNGU and Highlanders shared the spoils in a lukewarm Castle Larger Premier Soccer League affair at Ascot yesterday.

There was nothing to write home about in the first half except the two goals, which came in the last 10 minutes of the first half as both teams were too cautious resorting to dull long balls.

The match came to life towards the end with Philip Marufu opening the scoring in the 38th minute in a move that involved the evergreen Hillary Mugoniwa and Nhlanhla Ncube.

Chapungu won a corner on the right and Mugoniwa flighted a cross that was headed out by Honest Moyo. Mugoniwa received the second bite of the cherry and released the ball to Ncube who was outside the box. Ncube managed to spot Marufu inside a crowded box and the veteran striker beat Ariel Sibanda with a rising shot.

William Ngonya gifted the visitors with an equaliser in the 43rd minute when he had a clumsy challenge on Mutizwa inside the box and referee Pedzisai Chadya pointed to the pot.

Mutizwa who had missed two penalties previously against WhaWha and Dongo Saw Mills was brave enough to take the responsibility, picked up his spot on the right to beat Mazingi with a firm shot.

Bosso came back the more dominant side in the second half with Nqobizitha Masuku dictating pace in the midfield.

There was to be a five minute stoppage with Highlanders supporters throwing missiles at second assistant Chenjerai Chohumbiri after he had flagged 74th minute goal by Mutizwa for offside.

Play resumed after the intervention of anti-riot police but the stoppage neutralised the Bosso attack as they lost the momentum they had had picked at the start of the second half.

King Nadolo who had come on for Ralph Matema saw his shot deflected for a corner by Blessed Mbavarira in the 82nd minute.

Mazingi produced a fine save two minutes from time which kept his side in the match when he tipped over the bar a long range shot from Kutsanzira.

Chapungu coach John Nyikadzino was pleased with the draw although he felt that his charges should have wrapped up the match in the first half.

"We had an advantage in the first half, where I think we should have scored more goals.

I also feel that we gave them a cheap equaliser with that penalty but collecting four points from Highlanders is still a good achievement,'' said Nyikadzino.

Highlanders' technical director Cosmas Zulu felt his charges should have won the match in the second half when they had an upper hand.

"We dominated them in the second half and we should have won the match then. I also want to give credit to Nqobizitha Masuku for the way he raised the game for us in the second half.

The boys was fantastic in the second half but still a draw away from home is still a good result for us," said Zulu.

TEAMS:
Chapungu: R Mazingi, C Mativenga, B Mbavarira,B Zabula, W Ngonya, C Kwaramba (B Zabula 65 min)N Ncube (X Ncube 57 min), G Phiri, P Marufu, P Khumbula (R Mhlanga 65 min), A Tavarwisa

Highlanders: A Sibanda, R Kutsanzira, O Tarumbwa, B Kangwa, N Masuku (S Munwa 74 min), K Mutizwa, H Moyo, E Mudzingwa, V Ndaba (G Makaruse 77 min), P Mudhuhwa, R Matema (K Nadolo 62 min)