Highlanders 0-3 Harare City
FC Platinum 1-0 Black Rhinos
HARARE City compounded Highlanders’ woes when they dumped the Bulawayo giants out of the $500 000 Chibuku Super Cup on Sunday with a goal in each half at Rufaro Stadium.
City will now face FC Platinum in the final at a date and venue to be announced.
After three league defeats in a row, Highlanders brought in veteran coach Cosmas Zulu as technical adviser but that could not stop the fading Bulawayo giants from bombing out of the Chibuku Super Cup on Sunday.
After dominating exchanges in the first half, Highlanders missed a number of chances with Charles Sibanda, Simba Sithole and Rahman Kutsanzira being the culprits. They also suffered injuries to Dumisani Ndlovu, Mthulisi Maphosa and Bruce Kangwa.
With four minutes of added time in the first half, Francisco Zekumbawire lashed in a left footed shot that beat the diving Arial Sibanda in goal for Highlanders.
Substitute William Manondo, who will now relish a chance to face his former paymasters Platinum in the final, was then fed by Zekumbawire to slice in the second goal for City.
Then in the last minute of added time, Martin Vengesai shrugged off the challenge of Innocent Mapuranga to beat an outdrawn Sibanda. This means Highlanders have not won in Harare this season and have lost twice to Harare City in the capital this season.
They have also conceded seven goals without scoring in the last two matches, putting interim coach Mark Mathe under intense pressure. Mathe replaced Zambia Kelvin Kaindu two weeks ago.
Highlanders will now return to league action against Chicken Inn at home next Sunday hoping to redeem lost pride and get a win that will give them a chance to finish in the top four, at least.
On Saturday, Walter Musona headed home from a Raphael Muduviwa cross in the 78th minute to give FC Platinum the victory and send them to their first major final of the season.
Platinum coach Norman Mapeza said after the match: “This is a good result for me and a big one since I arrived here. I am happy for the boys. They played with confidence because they believed it could be done.”
The Zvishavane-based side has won the CG Msipa Charity Shield, the Independence Trophy and the ZNA Charity Shield this season and could wrap it now with the big one, which carries a $75 000 first prize. The runners up will get $50 000 while Black Rhinos and Highlanders will now take home $25 000 each.Advertisement