Dynamos 1-1 Highlanders
AFTER a narrow midweek defeat to Dynamos in the Independence Trophy final, Highlanders’ Zambian coach Kevin Kaindu threatened to walk away from his job claiming referees were making his life impossible.
His gripe on Thursday was a disallowed Highlanders goal as they went down 1-0 at the National Sports Stadium.
If that game left him despondent, Kaindu plumbed the depths of despair on Sunday as referee Norman Matemera’s optional time at the end of four minutes of injury time allowed Dynamos a controversial equaliser at Rufaro.
Highlanders led with a superb 51st minute strike from Njabulo Ncube and seemed headed for their first win over Dynamos since 2006 when four minutes of injury time were completed.
Matemera then awarded a free kick in the 95th minute and Highlanders cleared for a corner. From the resultant corner, Partson Jaure swept in the equaliser after gliding into the box unmarked.
Highlanders players surrounded the referee in vain and the goal stood.
The visitors’ mood would not have been lifted by the sight of Jaure scoring the leveller. Kaindu thought Jaure should not have been on the pitch after he caught Milton Ncube with a high boot in the chest on 79 minutes.
Matemera gave Jaure a talking-to, not even a yellow card – the least the challenge deserved.
Highlanders controlled the proceedings with Masimba Mambare forcing Augustine Mbara into making mistakes on the right hand side while Beaven Chikaka troubled Jaure, but there was no opening for the Bulawayo giants in the first half.
Bheki Ncube and Mthulisi Maphosa got the better of the Devon Chafa while skipper Innocent Mapuranga shut out struggling Francesco Zvikumbawire for the entire match.
Highlanders’ dominance finally told early in the second half when Jaure momentarily lost Njabulo in the box and the forward turned well to bury his effort past an exposed Artwell Mukandi from an acute angle.
Dynamos’ trump card was the introduction of the forceful Tawanda Muparati for old legs Murape Murape and that had Highlanders back-peddling.
With 90 minutes on the clock, Matemera took centre stage playing out his optional time of four minutes before adding two more for Dynamos’ goal after which he blew the whistle.Advertisement

The result was all too familiar for Dynamos who have drawn all five of their opening fixtures this season. The late equaliser would have slightly  eased the pressure on coach Callisto Pasuwa.
“We started off well, but we went to sleep and conceded a silly goal,” Pasuwa said in his post-match comments. “I think we fought hard in the second half.”
Kaindu said his team had been cheated out of a deserved win, but he was uqually harsh on his players for losing concentration in the final seconds.
“I think my players lost concentration in the last minute. We were certainly not happy with the time added on, but we play to the whistle and we didn’t do that. It’s a shame really because we were in control.”
Castle Lager Premier Soccer League Results
 
Sunday
 
Dynamos 1-1 Highlanders, Shabanie Mine 1-0 FC Platinum, Buffaloes 1-0 Harare City, How Mine 1-2 Caps United
 
Saturday
Black Mambas 1-0 Hwange, Chicken Inn 2-3 Monomotapa, Triangle 0-1 Tripple B, Motor Action 1-1 Black Rhinos