Bosso edge Tsholotsho

Tsholotsho FC  1 - 2  Highlanders
NINETEEN-year-old Highlanders striker Prince Dube finally found the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League goal he has been waiting for when he scored the winner for Bosso three minutes after replacing midfielder Adrian Silla.

Dube had the easiest task of tapping the ball into an empty net after being fed by Knox Mutizwa in the 63rd minute following a good build-up.

However, in the build-up to the goal, Tsholotsho felt hard done by Hwange-based referee Hardly Ndazi, who waved away appeals on what appeared to be a foul by Rahman Kutsanzira on Simbarashe Gorogodyo.

Kutsanzira appeared to use excessive force in dispossessing Gorogodyo of the ball in the centre circle and quickly sent a pass to Benson Phiri, who then cleverly sent Mutizwa through. Mutizwa, scorer of the first goal, beat the off-side trap and played the ball back to an unmarked Dube for a simple tap in.

The young Dube, who has set himself a reasonable target of 12 goals for this season, was denied a brace by the upright in the referee's optional time. "I believe this goal has given me confidence and it's a break that I needed to lift my game," said Dube.

"Pressure was beginning to build up because as a striker you have to score goals and having failed to find the back of the net against Hwange and FC Platinum, it was important that I score. I thank my senior teammates, who have been encouraging me since coming from the juniors and I hope to make the people of Highlanders happy with more goals. If I score 12 goals this season, I will be happy," said Dube, whose second half introduction brought life to Highlanders' attack.

Bosso had to come from a goal down after Tsholotsho shot ahead in the fourth minute, courtesy of a well-struck free-kick by skipper William Stima from the edge of the box.

Without taking anything away from Stima's effort, Highlanders' goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda should shoulder the blame as he was badly positioned, probably thinking that the Tsholotsho captain would swing in a cross.

From the restart, the Bulawayo giants, who have set themselves a top-four target, quickly equalised through Mutizwa, who was set up by King Nadolo.

Tsholotsho were unlucky not get another goal as they proved more creative than their opponents in midfield where veteran Joel Luphahla initiated most of their moves.

Luphahla capitalised on lack of positional discipline by Highlanders' anchorman Simon Munawa, who left the defence exposed on a number of occasions.

Tsholotsho even had an effort ruled in the first half.

Highlanders started the second half stronger and almost shot into the lead in the 50th minute when Bruce Kangwa beat Thandolwenkosi Ncube to come face-to-face with Tsholotsho goalkeeper Mariyoni Chang, who produced a fine save.

Highlanders' midfielder Adrian Silla failed to score from the rebound.

Tsholotsho striker Dylan Chivandire's cheeky flick in the 57th minute off a Mustafa Ponyera cross was saved by Sibanda.

Even when they were a goal down, Tsholotsho never gave up and had a penalty appeal waved away in the 73rd minute when Bosso skipper Felix Chindungwe appeared to fell Nicholas Mundandishe inside the box.

Three minutes before full-time, MacClive Phiri forced Sibanda to punch the ball to safety from a well taken free kick.

Tsholostho coach Lizwe Sweswe felt his boys were robbed of at least a point. "It was a tough game. Everything was okay and we even scored a clear goal, which was ruled out. Maybe sometimes officials protect big teams because to me that was a penalty," said Sweswe.