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Highlanders..........(1)2
Kiglon..................0 Result - CBZ FA Cup 1st Round, 24/08/08.
Bosso got back to business courtesy of a brace by top-scorer Cuthbert Malajila in the 15th and 80th minutes.
Nqobile Mpala and Lawson Nkomo got starts in a much changed line-up.
Caretaker coach Reuben Tsengwa, who took charge of Bosso after the dismissal of Methembe Ndlovu, had drawn 0-0 with Njube Sundowns, 2-2 with CAPS FC before going down 1-0 to Lengthens in the ABC Sup8r Soccer Showdown last Sunday.
He has been under pressure from the team’s fans and the executive, and yesterday, he undertook to recreate the mean machine that Bosso once was at Barbourfields using a 3-5-2 formation that was changed to 4-4-2 when they were under pressure.
He benched Johannes Ngodzo and Marshall Machazane and started off with the impressive Lawson Nkomo on the right wing and Nqobile Mpala upfront, while hard-working Douglas Zimbago was busy on his usual wings.
Stephen Alimenda, clearly the man of the match, and Richard Choruma dictated the pace in the middle of the park.
A brace from reigning Premiership top marksman Malajila inspired Bosso to victory, hitting the back of the net once in each half.
Tsengwa made some adjustment in the team that played yesterday, with the players playing more positive football than they have done in the past few matches.
The players showed that they were eager for a win and their efforts finally paid off when Malajila scored in the 16th minute.
A defensive boob by Kiglon defender Tawanda Munyanduri resulted in Malajila sneaking in from the blind side to slot home the opener.
Impressive former Zimbabwe Under-20 international Nkomo flighted in a beautiful cross which Munyanduri failed to clear leading to an alert Malajila to coolly slot past Kiglon goalkeeper, Itai Chiwara, to open his scoring account.
The goal took out the steam from Kiglon, who started the match a better side with captain Tawanda Nyamandwe playing the game of his life.
Nkomo, who had a field day, set up Mpala in the 22nd minutes but the striker fluffed a glorious opportunity, shooting wide with only the goalkeeper to beat.
For the first time, Bosso went all systems out in attack and were nearly rewarded in the 31st minute when on-fire Mpala brilliantly played a one-two with Zimbago who, unfortunately, hurried his shot.
The combination of Zimbago, Malajila and Mpala kept the visitors’ back four on their toes.
Nyamandwe failed to put his team level in the 37th minute when he headed over the bar after a brilliant build-up that started in defence.
Highlanders were forced to make an injury-induced substitution, pulling out impressive Nkomo for Machazane.
Nkomo picked up a knock when he went airborne challenging Nyamandwe.
The second half started at an electrifying pace and in search for an equaliser, Kiglon coach Ndawana Dube pulled out Tapiwa Kumbuyani, a defender, for attacking midfielder Dominic Benati.
His counterpart Tsengwa pulled out Eric Mudzingwa for Jacob Muzokomba to add more attacking power in the 60th minute. Malajila completed his brace when former Monomotapa linkman Irvine Tinarwo, who has been given little game time since his arrival at Bosso, was fouled on the edge of the box.
Muzokomba fired a stunning hard and low shot from the free-kick, which Chiwara spilt and Malajila reacted quicker than the Kiglon defence to slot home.
Kiglon were awarded a penalty when Gilbert Banda succumbed to pressure from Nyamandwe and handled inside the box in the82nd minute. Nyamandwe took the responsibility but blasted his effort way over the bar.
Teams
Highlanders: W Arubi, L Nkomo (M Machazane 37th min), G Banda, G Goddard, G Lunga, S Alumenda, R Choruma, E Mudzingwa (J Muzokomba 60th min), N Mpala (I Tinarwo 71st min), C Malajila, D Zimbago.
Kiglon: I Chiwara, T Khumbuyabi (D Benati 60 th min), F Murindi, J Mkondiwa, G Bello, N Mazivisa, I Pitamoja, B Pamhwira, T Munyanduri, T Nyamandwe, M Kufahakutizwi. Add. Herald and Studio 7
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