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Mzingaye Sibanda in BULAWAYO
Highlanders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Harare City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
HIGHLANDERS assistant coach Mark Mathe admitted that his side played second best to Harare City despite their victory and third-place finish in the Independence Cup at White City  yesterday.

The win saw them walking away US$7 000 richer.

Bosso’s chances were far and few in a dull encounter which took them 87 minutes for Khumbulani Banda to break the deadlock.

Mathe fielded a depleted side to give fringe players game time.

Young striker Mgcini Sibanda, Joel Ngodzo, Khumbulani Banda, Hillary Madzivanyika and Valentine Ndaba were among those handed starting places.

Rightback Graciano Chakafana and Bothwell Nyathi were also given their debut.

Players failed to justify their inclusion in the line-up after they failed to control the tempo of the match and did not create clear goal-scoring opportunities. Mathe said they did not play their normal free-flowing game and blamed the pitch.

“We didn’t play that well maybe because of the state of White City Stadium which didn’t favour our free-flowing game, for the record Harare City played better than us just that they didn’t take their chances like we did with our only opportunity,” said Mathe.

His counterpart Bigboy Mawiwi was a happy man despite the loss.

“I will go back a happy man, after my team’s performance we deserved to win but some calls which the referee made didn’t favour us but we can’t cry, I am happy with the way we played,” said Mawiwi.

Harare City were on fire from as early as in the eighth minute with William Manondo forcing Highlanders ‘keeper Ariel Sibanda into action.

Young Warriors’ starlet Mgcini’s first of the two chances he got during the game came in the 14th minute with a header after Rahman Kutsanzira’s corner.

Manondo was at it again in the 28th minute forcing Ariel into action with a low drive.

The teams came back improved in the second half with the Sunshine Boys’ midfielder Phineas Bhomisi testing Ariel in the 53rd minute.

Mathe made a tactical change bringing in Bruce Kangwa for Ngodzo who had a fair game.

Kangwa reverted to his usual left back position forcing Banda to push forward while Ndaba joined Madzivanyika in the middle of the park.

Still searching for answers Bosso substituted debutant Nyathi for Ozias Zibande on 63 minutes as the search for goals intensified. In the 67th minute Harare City reacted swiftly with a double substitution of Misheck Mburayi and Crybert Muvuti for Osborne Mukuradare and Manondo.

The move changed the pace for Bigboy Mawiwi’s men as they started to attack furiously forcing a triple save in the 84th minute after Mburayi’s cross had cause problems in the Bosso area.

Banda struck three minutes before stoppage time after substitute Peter Moyo’s corner found him with good space which allowed him to blast home  a thunderous shot with his right foot to beat  Muzondiwa Gonese.

Teams
Highlanders: A. Sibanda, G. Chakafana, K. Banda, D. Ndlovu, F. Chindungwe, H. Madzivanyika, R. Kutsanzira, J. Ngodzo (B. Kangwa 57th min), M. Sibanda, B. Nyathi (O. Zibande 63rd mine), V. Ndaba (P. Moyo 69th min)
Harare City: M. Gonese, M. Nyenye, T. Chiwareso, W. Nyamutsaka, D. Kutyaripo, T. Ngulube, W. Manondo (C. Muvuti 67th min), B. Maglas, O. Mukaradare (M. Mburayi 67th min), J. Jamu, P. Bhamusi