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Highlanders rampage as Dynamos, CAPS draw
By
Nkanyiso Moyo
EDWARD
Sadomba struck at the death at Gwanzura on Sunday as champions Dynamos
refused to cede early ground in the premiership to their bitter Harare
rivals, CAPS United.
Sadomba’s leveller to cancel out Lulu Milanzi’s 73rd minute goal for United earned Dynamos a 1-1 draw.
Both teams finished with 10 men. First, Dynamos’ Leonard Tsipa saw red after head-butting former team-mate David Kutyauripo. United’s Owen Muchapa followed after picking up a second yellow card for a professional foul.
In Bulawayo, Highlanders got their season underway with a thumping 4-0 win over city rivals, Njube Sundowns.
Cuthberth Malajila – the league’s most prolific striker last season -- hit the first double of the season at Barbourfields following his move from Chapungu. Douglas Zimbago and skipper Gilbert Banda completed the rout.
Banda, the heartbeat of the Highlanders defence, scored an odd season opener for the league runners up on 30 minutes.
Wellington Sibanda’s corner kick should have been easily dealt with by Thabani Moyo, but the former Highlanders striker fluffed the clearance and the ball fell to Zephaniah Ngodzo. Ngodzo crossed for an advanced Banda who beat an offside trap before placing the ball beyond the reach of Brian Ndlovu.
Highlanders surged further ahead early in the second half, this time Malajila turning provider for Douglas Zimbago who turned in a low short past Ndlovu.
Malajila, easily the best player on the pitch, got in on the act after 77 minutes, beautifully meeting Sibanda’s cross with a diving header for Highlanders’ third.
If his first was a beauty, his second goal was a piece of magic. Dotting across the centre line, Malajila sprinted for 10 metres with the ball seemingly tied to his feet.
Sikhumbuzo Banda, the last line of defence for Sundowns, dashed to thwart Malajila’s progress. Banda went to ground and Malajila ran around him with perfect ease before slamming the ball past a stranded Ndlovu.
At Baghdad, Malajila’s former paymasters Chapungu were 2-0 winners over Lancashire Steel in the Midlands derby. Allan Chimuka scored Chapungu’s opener, finding the target past a badly exposed Edmund Chimhini.
Eccentric Chapungu goalkeeper Edmore Sibanda killed the match as a contest with six minutes remaining when he beat his opposite number from the spot, the referee adjudging Maxwell Chipunza to have fouled Francis Kanda in the box.
In other matches, new boys Gunners stunned Motor Action 2-1, while Kiglon got the better of Underhill 3-1 in a battle of the newly promoted teams.
CBZ
Premier Soccer League Results:
Saturday: Gunners 2-1 Motor Action, Monomotapa 0-1 Shooting
Stars, Kiglon 3-1 Underhill
Sunday: Highlanders 4-0 Njube Sundowns, CAPS United 1-1 Dynamos, Masvingo 1-2 Lengthens, Lancashire Steel 0-2 Chapungu, CAPS FC 2-1 Eastern Lions
Week
Two Fixtures
Shooting Stars v Kiglon, Lengthens v Highlanders-postponed, Motor
Action v Masvingo United, Dynamos v Lancashire Steel-postponed, Chapungu
v Eastern Lions Sundowns v Monomotapa, Underhill v Gunners, CAPS FC
v CAPS United
CBZ Premier Soccer League Table (17 March 2008)
TEAM
|
Played |
Won |
Drew |
Lost |
G/F |
G/A |
Points |
|
| 1 | Highlanders | 1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
3 |
| 2 | Chapungu | 1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
| 3 | Kiglon | 1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
| 4 | CAPS FC | 1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
| 5 | Gunners | 1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
| 6 | Lengthens | 1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
| 7 | Shooting Stars | 1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
| 8 | CAPS United | 1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
| 9 | Dynamos | 1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
| 10 | Eastern Lions | 1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
| 11 | Monomotapa | 1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| 12 | Masvingo United | 1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
| 13 | Motor Action | 1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
| 14 | Lancashire Steel | 1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
| 15 | Underhill | 1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
| 16 | Njube Sundowns | 1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
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