HIGHLANDERS F.C………2
BLUE RANGERS…………..1
SUPER SUB OZIAS 'OZIZIEY' ZIBANDE rose from the bench to propel Bosso into the quarter finals of the Mbada Diamonds Cup with a superbly taken goal in added time of a lacklustre encounter played at Barbourfields stadium on Saturday. The goal lit up what had been an otherwise frustrating afternoon for the home side. It was one of the worst performances put up by Kevin Kaindu's charges since the Zambian gaffer took over at the beginning of the year. The team seemed overawed by the occasion and perhaps the money at stake as very little went right for us. Indiscipline and negative tactics from our opponents won the day for us as their plans to waste time by feigning injuries back fired. Rangers finished with 10men.
Still missing the services of the injured duo Masimba Mambare and Bruce Tshuma, Bosso fielded the same team that drew with Chicken Inn bar Lawson Nkomo who came in for Atlast Musasa. We started the game well enough with neat interchange of passes. On one such foray Bhekimpilo Ncube found Graham Ncube with a splitting pass on the edge of the box, the latter set up Milton who shot tamely at goal. We probed till we got the opener via a well placed header from Bhekimpilo off an inch perfect cross by Lawson Nkomo from the right wing. We were coasting at that stage until Rangers against the run ofp lay broke on the right and a cross to the box found a lone striker who twisted and turned despite being guarded by three defenders to toe poke the equalizer past Ariel Sibanda. We lost the plot from there on. Rangers were not impressive themselves save for their pint sized #22 Norest, who exhibited nimble footedness. The Rangers keeper started time wasting in the first half and was booked when he delayed in taking a goal kick. The first half fizzled out.
The second stanza was lukewarm with neither side wanting to take the game by the scruff of the neck. A spate of substitutions was made but the quality of the game never improved. As time ran out and Rangers sensing penalties started to employ negative tactics wasting time. And so came the talking point. Bosso broke clear and when Chikaka was set up he shot miles over bar. Instead of taking a goal kick, the goalie feigned injury and went down with no one near or around him. The referee charged in to issue a second yellow and subsequently a dismissal when he was confronted by seething Rangers players who besieged him and never allowed him to get to the goal keeper. They protested vehemently and decided to walk off. The referee stood his ground and after a long 'treatment' the keeper was finally red carded. Astonishingly the goalie sprung and was gunning determined to man handle the referee and possible give the official a hiding but the team alert team medic and ZRP officials had to stop him before he could mete out instant 'justice'. A 15 minute stoppage ensured as Rangers held a caucus meeting by their bench.
They eventually decided to abandon their ill-advised protests and took back to the field. Play resumed and on 90minutes an additional 15minutes were added. With a man advantage we pounded the Rangers goal. The breakthrough finally came in the 103rd minute when Ozias ZIbande out jumped all to loop a header up and over the keeper into the nets of a Kangwa cross. A sigh of relief more than anything swept through Barbourfields as we limped over the line to set up a date with Monomotapa in the quarter finals. Monoz beat Hardbody 3-2 at Dulibadzimu, Bietbridge.
ARIEL 6
Made a couple of saves but had a relatively comfortable afternoon.
LAWSON 5
Had one assist before fizzling out in the second half
KANGWA 7
Worked tirelessly thorough out. Our most consistent performer.
ERIC MDZINGWA 8*
For the third game running he is Man Of The Match. Got rewarded for his stellar efforts by pocketing $500. Rock solid throughout the game.
INNO MAPURANGA 3
Has taken an unbelievable deep in form.
MTHULISI 4
His passes which used to be pin –point are no longer finding their intended targets. He is being muscled off the ball way too easily.
RIO 3
He simply never showed up
MUNAWA 6
Was surprisingly taken off when he looked our best performer in the midfield department.
GRAHAM 3
Simply cant score. Misses when scoring seems easier.
MILTON 5
Had a subdued game and shot tamely at goal when he thrice found an opening.
BHEKIMPILO 7
The big man is reveling in his new found form. Has delightful touches and scored a wonderful headed goal.
CHIKAKA 4,
OZIAS 6,
KNOX 4.
By Sbue
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
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