CAPS United closes in on Highlanders

HARARE - CAPS United are now just three points off Castle Premiership log leaders Highlanders after defeating the Bulawayo giants 2-1 on Saturday courtesy of Leonard Fiyado's late winner at the National Sports Stadium.

The Green Machine is now in third place with 26 points while Highlanders remained on the summit of the log with 29 points from 15 games.

Saturday's match, however, failed to live up to expectations as both teams struggled to string meaning full passages of play.

United drew first blood in the ninth minute when Dominic Chungwa pounced on a loose ball inside the box following Tawanda Nyamandwe's headed attempt.

Credit should go to Makepekepe defender Tawanda Munyanduri, who drove menacingly from his own half before releasing Rahman Kutsanzira on the left.

Kutsanzira, who was the best player on show on the afternoon, sent in an excellent cross that unsettled the Bosso defence.

Nyamandwe's tame header was blocked by Dumisani Ndlovu but unfortunately for the visitors Chungwa was the first to react to poke the ball past Munyaradzi Diya.

The goal failed to spark life into the game as both teams continued play aimlessly without any threat to the goalkeepers.

Bosso were given a lifeline in the 30th minute when Milton Ncube restored parity via a set piece.

United defender Arnold Chivheya bundled down Bosso forward Jabulo Ncube some 25 yards for a free kick.

Milton Ncube sweetly struck free kick went over the wall before dipping under the cross bar leaving United goalie Tafadzwa Dube no chance.

The former Motor Action and Shooting Stars player almost gave Bosso the lead with another free kick that hit the cross bar seven minutes later.

In the second half, it was a similar pattern from both sides as they failed to justify the hype that was there before kick-off.

Kutsanzira, who was playing against his former team, was the only United player who was showing urgency when on the ball.

His pace was troubling Bosso right back Bruce Tshuma and the visitors had Diya to thank on many occasions when they were caught out.

Diya on two occasions denied Chungwa and Fiyado after the Bosso defence had been unlocked by Kutsanzira's pace.

The Green Machine finally got it right eight minutes from time when Fiyado got to the end of another Kutsanzira cross before his awkward side footed shot beat Diya.

Bosso seem to have been caught cold by the resumption of the league following the two-week international break.

Milton Ncube showed some flashes of brilliance throughout the match but he was let down by his teammates, who seemed not to give 100 percent.

The Bulawayo giants did not deserve to get anything out of the match and need to rectify their shortcoming or else they will lose ground in the title race.

CAPS coach Taurai Mangwiro was elated after the match but refused to declare his team title contenders.

"I'm that we have won today because we had to dig deep as a team," said Mangwiro. "It's a very good welcome result.

"We are now within three points of the log leaders and it's a healthy situation for us and let's take it from here and see where we end up.

"The season is just getting to the midway stage and I cannot myself and say we want to win the championship but we have to keep on working hard to get as many points as possible."

Bosso coach Kelvin Kaindu was disappointed with the way his team applied themselves against the United yesterday.

"It was always going to be a difficult game for us because last season we beat them home and away," said the Zambian.

"Today we created few chances and we were not at our best. We did not look very dangerous."