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Highlanders close in on unbeaten Kiglon
By
Nkanyiso Moyo
Highlanders........1
CAPS United.......0
Dynamos............1
Kiglon................1
HIGHLANDERS moved to within four points of leaders Kiglon with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over CAPS United at Barbourfields Stadium Thursday.
Midfielder Johannes Ngodzo struck on 78 minutes to give the Bulawayo side their second win of the season and inflict CAPS United first defeat.
The chances were few and apart in a dull first half with Richard Choruma heading wide from a Ngodzo corner in the 10th minute.
United's George Karimupfumbi stung Highlanders goalkeeper Washington Arubi’s fingers with a shot from a freekick on 23 minutes.
Both teams played a better game in the second half, with Highlanders guilty of missing a numerous chances. Malajila headed wide from a Zephaniah Ngodzo cross in the 50th minute.
The miss of the day came in the 51st minute when Malajila came face to face with CAPS United goalkeeper Tsungi Mudzamiri, but his grounder missed the target by inches. On reflection, it was probably wiser to round off the goalkeeper than shoot early.
Highlanders felt they were denied a penalty in the 65th minute when Bernard Benesi appeared to have handled in the box.
United also felt robbed when there was a handball in the Bosso box, but it was waved away, much to the dismay of the visitors’ fans.
Highlanders finally broke the deadlock 12 minutes from the end when Ngodzo was allowed space to take a shot. His left footer, driven hard and low, found its spot to the right of a fully-stretched Mudzamiri.
More misery could have been inflicted, but Malajila wasted another glorious opportunity just before the end.
United coach Luke Masomere admitted his side's attack had been neutralised.
“We failed
to attack from the start and they closed us down in the midfield.
When we tried the wings, they came down hard on the attack, but it
was a good game,”
said Luke Masomere after the match.
His counterpart Methembe Ndlovu lauded his side for a better performance in the second half, but felt they could have scored more.
“We created a lot of chances after we made changes in the second half and I am happy that the boys kept pushing and they eventually got the goal," he said.
“We had a number of players missing from the match, but that aside the selected boys did the job."
Highlanders climbed the table into fourth with nine points, four less than leaders Kiglon who drew 1-1 with Dynamos in Harare on Thursday.
CAPS United remained in sixth place.
Teams
Highlanders-W Arubi, Z Ngodzo, G Lunga, H Dick, G Banda, S Alimenda,
R Choruma, I Tinarwo (W Sibanda 30th min), J Ngodzo, A Mbaiwa (N Mpala
67th min), C Malajila
CAPS United-T Mudzamiri, B Benesi, D Kutyauripo, O Machapa, C Dzimbiri (T Rusike 46th min), G Karimupfumbi, E Manuwere (M Mwanjali 63rd min), R Milanzi, N Mukumbi, T Chiradza (L Chikafa 52nd min), N Mushekwi
CBZ Premier Soccer League Table (02 May 2008)
TEAM
|
Played |
Won |
Drew |
Lost |
G/F |
G/A |
Points |
|
| 1 | Kiglon | 5 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
10 |
4 |
13 |
| 2 | Chapungu | 5 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
7 |
1 |
11 |
| 3 | Motor Action | 5 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
8 |
4 |
10 |
| 4 | Highlanders | 5 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
8 |
2 |
9 |
| 5 | CAPS FC | 5 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
7 |
4 |
9 |
| 6 | CAPS United | 5 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
8 |
| 7 | Gunners | 5 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
6 |
4 |
7 |
| 8 | Dynamos | 5 |
1 |
4 |
0 |
5 |
3 |
7 |
| 9 | Lengthens | 5 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
6 |
7 |
7 |
| 10 | Eastern Lions | 5 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
7 |
| 11 | Njube Sundowns | 5 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
7 |
8 |
6 |
| 12 | Shooting Stars | 5 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
4 |
8 |
6 |
| 13 | Underhill | 5 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
6 |
8 |
4 |
| 14 | Monomotapa | 5 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
4 |
8 |
3 |
| 15 | Masvingo United | 5 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
8 |
2 |
| 16 | Lancashire Steel | 5 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
2 |
8 |
1 |
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