Highlanders retained the ZNA Charity Shield after beating Harare City 4-2 on penalties at Barbourfields stadium on Sunday.

Highlanders rookie goalkeeper Prosper Mathuthu who was playing his first game this season was the hero of the day saving two spotkicks from Ronald Chitiyo and Munyaradzi Diro Nyenye after the match had ended goalless in regulation time.

Harare City had started well keeping their opponents on the backfoot with youngsters Dexter Mawere and Learnmore Muyambo playing well in the first half but Highlanders became the more dominant side in the second half. Both sides came close in the second half with Mathuthu twice denying William Manondo while young Prince Dube failed to beat Maxwell Nyamupanedengu point blank with just two minutes left.

Eric Mudzingwa, Dube, Simon Munawa and Peter Muduhwa converted for Bosso while Chitiyo and Diro Nyenye were denied by Mathuthu.

Highlanders coach Erol Akbay who bagged his first trophy was thrilled with the victory but felt his side should have wrapped the match in regulation time.

“We didn't p?ay well in the first half but we came better in the second half. I think we should have finished them off in the second half because we created a lot of chances. But a win is a win," said Akbay.

His counterpart Moses Chunga accepted defeat saying his side should have utilised the momentum they had in the first half.

“We were nervous on penalties and that is why we lost. Actually we should have beaten in the first half but I am not disappointed though with the result, I noted some positives from the way we played," said Chunga.