HIGHLANDERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(1)1
BIKITA MINERALS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(0)1
HIGHLANDERS suffered yet another set-back in their championship quest after they were held to a draw by Bikita Minerals in an exciting Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match played at Barbourfields Stadium in Bulawayo yesterday.
The two sides scored on either half through Marvin Sibanda for Highlanders and Evans Katema for the visitors.
An early scare for Highlanders came inside the first minute, but goalkeeper Raphael Pitisi made three brilliant saves under attack from Chris Makambira and Evans Katema.
But the Bikita Minerals’ pressure was punctured three minutes later when Sibanda put the Bulawayo giants ahead, outstretching Bikita Minerals goalkeeper First Gandisani from the edge of the penalty box after being beautifully sent through by Lynoth Chikuhwa.
It was Sibanda’s first goal in his first start for Highlanders and he gave a decent show before he was substituted for Mason Mushore in the second half.
Katema then squared up the situation in the 55th minute with an excellent volley after receiving an equally good cross from Prince Milanzi.
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Highlanders put up a sterling first half performance, but missed a number of clear opportunities to score more goals. Lynoth Chikuhwa had a chance to increase the tally when he dribbled past a Bikita Minerals defender inside the penalty box in the 19th minute, but watched his effort narrowly miss the upright with Gandisani beaten.
In the 39th minute, Sibanda let off a screamer just after the centre-line and hit the cross-bar, with Gandisani in sixes and sevens as Highlanders continued their onslaught in search of a winner.
The second half was not up to scratch, with both sides failing to score.
Highlanders attacked Bikita Minerals left, right and centre towards the end of the match, but would not get the desired goals.
A last-minute gasp for Highlanders came a minute before full time, but Chikuhwa’s effort inside the box was saved by Gandisani.
Highlanders are now on position five on the table with 23 points after they were displaced by Ngezi Platinum, who beat Chicken Inn at Baobab on Saturday.
Highlanders coach Kelvin Kaindu was a disappointed man and said his boys relaxed after getting the early goal.
“It’s two points that we have dropped. I think we got comfortable when we got an early goal. It was probably a disadvantage for us to concede in the first half,” he said.
“We did not start well. The opponents’ first chance was in the first chance when our goalkeeper made about three saves, but from there, we managed to control the game, but then we relaxed when we got that early goal.”
His counterpart Arnold Jani was ecstatic with the result away from home.
“It is a good result for us having travelled all the way from Bikita. We did very well. I know Highlanders and how they play,” Jani said.
Teams
Highlanders: R Pitisi, B Mlotshwa (M Chigumira, 73’), G Makaruse, A Mbeba, P Muduhwa, M Ncube, M Sibanda (Mason Mushore, 73’), M Mushore, B Ncube (P Ndlovu, 54’), D Mhindirira, L Chikuhwa
Bikita Minerals: F Gandisani, P Milanzi (G Timoti, 88’), B Kagudu, C Munzabwa, H Jeke, B Mtuchi (R Madamombe, 46’), A Gahadzikwa (L Masveure, 46’), B Bera, E Katema (D Mutimunzeve, 78’), C Makambira (M Mambare, 78’), P Tonha
