Highlanders..............(1)1

Motor Action..............0

BF, PSL - 26/10/08

Bosso won at last in the PSL through a goal by Cuthbert Malajila (2nd Min).

FINALLY, there was something to smile about for Highlanders as they collected maximum points after eight games with a rather hard-fought win over Motor Action in a CBZ Premiership match played at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday.

Cuthbert Malajila’s first half strike was all the Bulawayo giants needed to bag three points.

Highlanders had gone for eight games without a win and this victory was a relief for the technical team, players, executive and the fans.

Highlanders’ interim coach Rueben Tsengwa was a relieved man and said the team’s patience had finally paid off and they would continue working hard.

“It was a good game for us and our patience finally paid off. We are going to continue working hard and hope to win our remaining matches and try new combinations,” said Tsengwa.

He gave credit to Zephania Ngodzo and Guide Goddard for doing a sterling job in marshalling the defence adding that Gilbert Banda would have to fight for the first team jersey.

“Zephania and Goddard did well in the heart of defence. It will not be easy for Gilbert when he returns as he has to work hard to get a place in the team,” said Tsengwa.

The match started off on a high note with Highlanders attacking from the first whistle. It was in these early attacks that the former champions managed to grab a goal.

Malajila volleyed home from close range after two minutes from a Gift Lunga long clearance. Lunga had cleared a ball under the challenge of Louis Matawu and Malajila outpaced Moses Williams who should have done better to clear the ball to safety.

The early goal gave Highlanders the cutting edge as they began dictating the pace of the game but in the sixth minute, Johannes Ngodzo looked in agony as his long-range shot missed goal by inches.

Motor Action’s first attempt at goal was in the ninth minute when Warriors midfielder Clemence Matawu set up Salimu Milanzi who took a weak shot that gave Washington Arubi no problems.

The visitors’ defence of Williams and Milanzi looked shaky and had the Highlanders strikeforce been lethal, they could have bagged more goals.

In the 29th minute Highlanders could have doubled the scoreline after they were awarded a penalty when Milanzi brought down Douglas Zimbago in the box. Marlon Jani who was in goal for the visitors made a brilliant save, diving to his left to deny Johannes a goal.

Malajila, full of running the whole afternoon, failed to beat Jani in a one-on-one situation in the 35th minute.

The last five minutes of the first half saw the visitors taking the game away from Highlanders in search of an equaliser. Motor Action made some beautiful passes, keeping possesion and making brilliant build-ups but failed to find the back of the net.

Darryl Nyandoro should have levelled in the 42nd minute after being set up by Milanzi who had done well to beat Lawson Nkomo and sent in a hard and low cross, which Nyandoro, unmarked in the box, failed to connect.

In the 44th minute Simbarashe Zimora shot over the goal with Arubi to beat.

The second half saw the Lindile Dube-coached side returning a more determined side. The introduction of Edmore Mufema for Zimora resuscitated the Harare teamstrikeforce and they nearly equalised in the 55th minute when Matawu set up Mufema but the former Dynamos striker shot over the goal.

Jacob Muzokomba who came in for Johannes could have had his name on the scoresheet but failed to connect a cross delivered by Zimbago in the 75th minute.
Louis, who had a good game beat Richard Choruma and Lunga on the left side and released a cross for Mufema who watched in disbelief as the woodwork denied him a goal with Arubi beaten all systems out.

Mufema could have grabbed a late equaliser but lack of precision saw him head the ball wide with only Arubi to beat in the 90th minute.

Teams

Highlanders: W Arubi, Z Ngodzo, G Goddard, L Nkomo, G Lunga, S Alimenda, R Choruma, A Mbaiwa, J Ngodzo (J Muzokomba 73rd min), D Zimbago, C Malajila

Motor Action: M Jani, E Tembo, R Marere, M Williams, L Matawu, C Matawu, S Milanzi, D Chakupa (I Masame 53rd min), P Mumba, S Zimora(E Mufema 53rd min), D Nyandoro (L Salous 79th min

Chronicle

Comments (2)

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Ngenkani said:

	It looks like this match was awarded to Motor Action on 3-0 scoreline after we fielded Malajila. Is it true?
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January 05, 2009
Votes: +0

Farai Rubaya said:

	Keep it up boys, we want more wins even collecting maximum points on all the remaining matches
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October 27, 2008
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