Highlanders, Harare City and Bulawayo City registered wins in the Castle Lager PSl while Triangle and Yadah continued with their inconsistent runs.

Highlanders 3-0 Hwange

Highlanders put up a near flawless performance in the second half to dust themselves up from the midweek loss they suffered at the hands of Black Rhinos.

However, it is still to be seen if the play they exhibited on Sunday heralds their resurgence or it was aided by an injury inspired substitution made by the coal-miners on the brink of halftime.

Hwange played the last 22 minutes with 10 men after Collen Muleya got a second booking and left for an early shower in the 68th minute. By then, Highlanders were leading 1-0 courtesy of a 12th minute goal by Brian Banda.

In the build up to Highlanders’ opener, midfielder King Nadolo, who produced a man-of-the match performance, broke loose on the left flank weaving past two Hwange defenders and set a through pass to Godfrey Makaruse.

In turn, Makaruse picked up Banda inside the 18 yard box and the young lad’s shot beat a diving Hwange goalkeeper Taimon Mvula.

The turning point of the game was to be in the 68th minute when Muleya was shown a red after being booked for a second time. Muleya struggled to contain Rahman Kutsanzira for the better part of the play, and earned himself a second yellow card when he pulled the Highlanders midfielder as he was charging towards goal.

Highlanders used their numerical advantage with Nadolo and Kutsanzira engineering most moves from the midfield as Hwange’s midfield which had veteran Andrew Chuma was left chasing shadows.

Nadolo capped a fine afternoon with a 76th minute goal, tapping in a pin-point pass from Dube inside the visitors’ 12 yard box following an impressive exchange of passes between the two in a move initiated by Denzel Khumalo.

Dube scored his sixth goal of the season three minutes later to put the game to bed and this time Kutsanzira provided the assist.

“We needed the three points really hard. As you can see we are in the top eight, this is not good for Highlanders considering what we want this year. So it’s good that we won. I changed the team today because every time when we play a team at the bottom of the log we always experience problem that is why I changed the team. Highlanders is coming back don’t worry,” Akbay said.

Highlanders made several changes to their regular starting 11 which saw Rodreck Mutuma, Tendai Ngulube, Allen Gahadzikwa, Simon Munawa and Benson Dube dropped.

Hwange coach Nation Dube felt the red card affected his game plan.

“I was not happy with the awarding of the red card. We were in form in the first half and the start of the second half. But when we were shown the red card that is when we lost the game. Match officials changed the complexion of the game. In most games we have lost, referees have decided the outcome,” said Dube.

Harare City 2-0 Triangle

HARARE City are beginning to flex their muscles in the Castle Lager Premiership as new coach Philani “Beefy”’ Ncube waves his magic.

The Sunshine Boys beat Triangle at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday for their fourth point in two games.

Ncube has now picked seven points from his five games.

The hosts were handed an opener by Triangle defender Guthrie Zhokinyu who headed into his nets just before the break.

Harare City forward William Manondo’s header in the 64th minute provided breathing space for the hosts.

 “As a coach you will never be satisfied. It is still work in progress considering the way we missed chances,”’ said Ncube.

“There was an improvement in our strike force comparing to the FC Platinum match. The mobility was good today but unfortunately we didn’t turn that into more goals.”

Triangle continued with their inconsistent run and coach Taurai Mangwiro poured out his frustrations after losing against his old team.

Ralph Kawondera and Russell Madamombe missed chances in the first half.

“The performance itself wasn’t dismal but carelessness in the way we defended. Those are things that can be worked on, communication between defenders and the goalkeeper,” said Mangwiro.

“We had greatly improved in the way we defend set pieces in our previous game.

“We conceded in similar fashion to the game against Yadah. We made a mistake with the first goal then went to sleep on the second goal. When the opponent punished us, we failed to do so in return.

“We had two good chances in the first half. We have put ourselves in a difficult position, the only difference is we have started to win at home but we are not in a good position.”

Shabanie Mine 0-0 Black Rhinos

SHABANIE Mine must be cursing themselves as to how they failed to win this match given their dominance, all afternoon, at Maglas on Sunday.

Masvingo assistant referee Tainec Mwadira had to be escorted by the police with fans unhappy with a call he made in the 40th minute when he flagged Nelson Maziwisa for offside.

Admire Dzumbunu made a solo run on the left and sent a cross into the box which saw Maziwisa outpacing his marker and placing a firm header past goalkeeper Herbert Rusawo.

The referee pointed to the spot but Mwadira flagged for offside.

Shabanie coach Takesure Chiragwi was once again left shaking his head in disbelief.

“I am doing my job.I am proud of my players but I feel the assistant referee decided the outcome of the game. It was a cross and the finishing comes from a striker who was behind a defender.

“He cost us the match and as a team we are failing to get full results because of some decisions from some match officials.

“I will, however, forgive him because he is human and to err is human.

“A human can make mistakes but I am worried about the situation he is putting us under after playing so well. I look forward to get maximum points in our next match,” said Chiragwi

Black Rhinos coach Stix Mtizwa was content with a draw.

“It is very hard to play a team coming from a defeat. I am happy with the draw. The suspension of my key players affected our rhythm but I am happy with those who came in.

“Shabanie played well .We were under pressure but I am happy that we managed to maintain our unbeaten run. I am happy with my back four because they are really solid,” said Mtizwa

Bulawayo City 2-1 Yadah FC

BULAWAYO City FC coach Mandla Mpofu heaved a sigh of relief when his team ended a three-match losing streak and added woes on visiting Yadah FC who have now gone for four games without a victory.

City came into Sunday’s Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Luveve Stadium smarting from three consecutive losses to Ngezi Platinum Stars (3-2), and identical 1-0 scoreline defeats against How Mine and Chapungu.

A ninth minute schoolboy blunder by Yadah goalkeeper Munyaradzi Zengeni gifted City the lead as a seemingly harmless shot by Clive Rupiya went through the goalie’s legs.

Despite going a goal down, Yadah never lost hope as they kept asking City’s defence questions and they finally found an equaliser just after the half-hour mark from the penalty spot.

City’s defender Zibusiso Sibanda brought down Johane Sibanda in the box on the 31st minute and referee Allan Bhasvi rightfully awarded the visitors a penalty. Seasoned player Wellington Kamudyariwa converted the spot-kick, sending young City goalkeeper Aaron Ngwenya the wrong way.

That goal gave Yadah hope that they can at least get maximum points but found the home team equally hungry for the points.

Most of the play was concentrated in the midfield, with City’s quartet of Kelvin Madzongwe, Innocent Kutsanzira, Trevor Ndlovu and Humphrey Ncube standing up to Yadah’s Brian Mapfumo and Kamudyariwa, Johane and Leeroy Murape.

City found the winning goal in the 80th minute through overlapping leftback Munyaradzi Mungadze who reacted quickly to tap a rebound off a Maphosa header.

Yadah’s midfielder Mapfumo blew a perfect opportunity to equalise when he shot wide with only Ngwenya to beat in the 87th minute.

“I’m happy we managed to get three points because we came into this game feeling some pressure after those three defeats. I’m happy that the players managed to fight for maximum points after Yadah drew one back. The fighting spirit that we showed today really impressed me,” said Mpofu.

His Yadah counterpart Tapera said: “This is a painful defeat because again we shot ourselves in the foot by conceding that soft goal. If you look at the last four games we’ve played, poor goalkeeping has been our problem and we need to address that. We also had our fair chances which we failed to convert and such is football.”

Yadah last recorded a victory on May 25 when they beat Triangle United 3-0.

Sunday’s loss pushed Yadah into the relegation zone as they are now fourth from the bottom with 13 points from 14 games.

Results

Saturday: ZPC Kariba 0-0 FC Platinum, Tsholotsho FC 0-1 Chicken Inn

Sunday: Highlanders 3-0 Hwange, Bulawayo City 2-1 Yadah FC, Harare City 2-0 Triangle United, Shabanie Mine 0-0 Black Rhinos, Ngezi Platinum 2-2 Bantu Rovers, Chapungu 0-4 Dynamos (match abandoned after 56 minutes)