HIGHLANDERS turned on a vintage performance to book a place in the semi-finals of the Mbada Diamonds Cup for the first time as they destroyed Buffaloes at Mucheke yesterday writes Grace Chingoma in Masvingo.
Highlanders . . . . . . . .(0) 3
Buffaloes . . . . . . . . . . . . .0
The victory also came in style as the Bulawayo giants got all the goals inside 10 minutes. Midfielder Mthulisi Maphosa got the opener in the 63rd minute, three minutes after his introduction.
Five minutes later, Masimba Mambare, who was voted man-of-the-match following a good afternoon, capped the fine performance with a goal.
Milton Ncube, hardly a minute after coming in, got the insurance goal in the 71st minute when he headed home. The former league champions had a goal disallowed in the 41st minute when gangly midfielder Bhekimpilo Ncube’s header was ruled out by referee Nomore Masundire.
But the floodgates opened in the second period and Mucheke, which is missing Premiership action, woke from the slumber as the Highlanders fans celebrated.
Interestingly, as the Bosso fans celebrated, they started mocking their rivals Dynamos, with songs littered with foul words, as news filtered through that the Mbada Cup holders were trailing at Rufaro.
Highlanders coach Kelvin Kaindu, who was rewarded for the changes that he made, was a happy man.
“We have qualified for the semi-finals and we thank God. We don’t know who our opponents would be. And considering the condition of the pitch we were playing on, it was really a good game. It is good to progress because last time we got knocked out in the second round against Monomotapa.
“We knew they would probably come and give us something. The only challenge now is ourselves. If we continue with the way we have been playing in this tournament then we can expect something,” said Kaindu.
Kaindu said he was now hoping that the players will quickly transform this Cup form into the league starting with the mid-week match on Wednesday. The Zambian coach saluted Mambare for scoring after a very long time.
“I am happy that he scored after a long time, I hope it is the beginning of new things,” he said.
Buffaloes coach Timothy Masachi said they failed to utilise the few chances that came their way when the game was still goalless.
“We missed a lot of chances in the first half. In the second half we didn’t really attack and we were punished while Highlanders used their chances. Our wingbacks failed to cut the crosses,” said Masachi.
Buffaloes were the first to settle and started asking some questions on Bosso defence. Buffaloes’ striker Lloyd Katongomara fluffed a good chance in the 20th minute when he received a through pass from Wonder Sithole.
Seven minutes later Prosper Matizanadzo saw his chance go wide. In the 22nd minute, Mambare’s effort was cleared by Buffaloes defender Phillip Chandisaita.
However, after the breather, Highlanders got it right when substitute Beaven Chikaka left his marker and crossed for Maphosa who directed his header past the goalkeeper.
As Buffaloes were still trying to figure out how they had fallen behind, Bosso had other ideas when Gabriel Nyoni beat his marker on the right before squaring for Chikaka who set up Mambare to put the finishing touches.
The third goal was created from the left side again when Bruce Kangwa sent in a cross and Ncube pounced.
Teams
Highlanders: M. Diya, E. Mudzingwa, I. Mapuranga, D. Ndlovu, B. Kangwa, H. Madzivanyika, S. Munawa (M. Maphosa 60th minute), M. Mambare, B. Ncube(M. Ncube 70th minute), N. Ncube (B. Chikaka 52nd minute), G. Nyoni.
Buffaloes: B. Mwandimutsira, B. Mukwena, T. Ndlovu,P. Chandisaita, S. Nyauzima, P. Tembani, P. Matizanadzo, S. Nkata, W. Sithole (M. Mageja 88th minute), S. Sibanda, L. Katongomara (D. Zimbango 73rd minute). The Herald
