From Lovemore Dube
Highlanders …………… (1) 1 CAPS United ……………….0
MENARD MUPERA yesterday scored his third Premiership goal for Highlanders at Barbourfields to ensure the club continued with a good second half charge towards the top of the standings and hand Moses Chunga his first defeat since his return to CAPS United.
The day will also be remembered for Bosso’s zero tolerance on hooliganism with two fans being fished out of the ground, for causing problems, and being handed over to the police. Bottle stores in the area surrounding Barbourfields were also closed as part of the crackdown on hooliganism at the ground.
The win over highly-fancied CAPS United, who had in their last six matches won five and drawn one, saw acting coach Mkhuphali Masuku make it three in a row, amid calls for the executive to let him finish off the season before making a decision over the job.
Masuku replaced Mohamed Fathi who called it a day at the club on 30 September. He has so far beaten Gunners 2-1 and Shabanie Mine 1-0 to stay within reach of a Champions League slot. Mupera, who was benched for most of the first half of the season, shot Highlanders into the lead after 17 minutes with a trademark beauty.
The former Black Rhinos and Warriors midfielder had previously scored two gems on the Soweto end, but yesterday he took his act to the Mpilo end. Gift Lunga won possession wide on the left in the opposition half. He sent a cross into the box which was intelligently chested down by veteran Chipo Tsodzo into the path of off-form Eric Mudzingwa.
The lanky Warriors fringe player had his effort at goal saved in a forest of legs, and he kept on pressurising the jittery Caps defence and a loose ball fell into the path of Mupera. He teased his marker, sending him the wrong way before cutting in and letting off a full-blooded grounder to make it 1-0 for Highlanders.
CAPS United, who looked shy in attack came close in the 28th minute through Pride Tafirenyika — a consistent threat for Highlanders in the middle of the park. He was a beneficiary of a good cross from the left by hardworking Stephen Alimenda but his good header missed the upright by a few inches.
Highlanders came hunting in the 39th minute of a first half in which they created a host of chances. Mupera dribbled well past Ronald Sengu on the left flank, and sent a brilliant cross to the blind side where Kutsanzira was lurking.
With big Edmore Sibanda, in goals for the visitors, a shade too slow at the near post, instead of controlling and pushing the ball across the line, Kutsanzira skied with a sidefooted effort from inside the 12-yard box.
Joel Luphahla, who had a good run all afternoon against Lunga on the right flank, shook his head in disbelief when Arial Sibanda went airbone to punch his shot for a corner on the stroke of half-time.
This was after Mupera had needlessly lost possession in the centre circle and CAPS had surged forward with immaculate one-twos with Tafirenyika and Lupha-hla involved.
The second half had little goalmouth action with most of the action in the middle of the park where Joel Ngodzo mixed business with entertainment to steal the show from the dominant visitors’ midfield.
Nyasha Mukumbi counted himself unlucky when, from the ensuing commotion after a Luphahla corner, he lobbed the goalkeeper and horizontal bar in the 49th minute to give the home team’s supporters a sigh of relief. Six minutes later Joel Ngodzo had a crack at goal but Sibanda saved well.
On 63 minutes Sibanda was back in action to thwart Bekithemba Ndlovu from 25 metres out. Then a minute into added time Highlanders’ ’keeper Sibanda tossed himself into the air to catch a Frank Adu header that appeared destined for the top left corner to deny the visitors a share of the spoils.
Anthony Njaya had a good game as the man in charge and was well assisted by Cosmas Gombwe (Chivhu) and Anthony Siyavunda of Chiredzi.
Results Elsewhere
Motor Action……………… 1 Shabanie Mine……………………. 1
Dynamos……………………. 0 Hwange…………………………….. 1
Gunners…………………….. 2 Lengthens………………………….. 2
