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Tobias Mandoreba Hwange Correspondent

Hwange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 1  

Highlanders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0

A 58th minute stunning goal by substitute Lloyd Mutoma, with his very first touch of the game, was all hosts Hwange needed to silence Highlanders at the Colliery Stadium yesterday.

The result put a huge dent on Highlanders’ hopes of winning the Castle Lager Premier Soccer league title after such a promising start to the campaign.

With the match evenly balanced and keeping the bumper crowd on the edge of their seats, Mutoma came in for another youthful player Tendai Muvhuti and made the huge difference to garner maximum points for Chipangano who are fighting for survival in this league.

The goal gave veteran Bosso goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda no chance as he dived in vain.

Sibanda could not stop the rasping volley from hitting the roof of the nets, leaving the local fans in a delirium.

Asked on his wonder goal after the match, with a beaming smile, Mutoma said:

“From the bench I was tipped that Ariel is not diving much in the game so when the ball came to me my team mate Shepard urged me to shoot and I am glad I caught I sweetly and gave my team all the points.”

Apart from the Mutoma magic, the match had lived to its pre-match billing as it was cracker from the first minute of the match in which local Hwange referee Mhaka Magare had a firm grip on proceedings.

Hwange created the first chance of the afternoon in the 10th minute when big striker Pritchard Mpelele broke loose and came face to face with Sibanda only to fluff his lines and allow Melikhaya Sibanda to ghost in from the blind spot to make a heroic tackle for a corner kick.

Bosso then started launching forays from the right flank revolving around Elshamar Farasi and it was no surprise when  Hwange gaffer Nation Dube pulled out leftback Ralyton Maphosa in the 25th minute as he was finding it difficult to contain the slippery Farasi.

Hwange goalminder Nedrick Madeya made the first of his heroic saves on the half hour mark when he smothered a flashing Andrew Mbeba header from the line to deny Bosso the first breakthrough.

Highlanders continued to turn the screws in an impressive spell of the opening stanza with Mackinnon Mushure and  Ncube coming close to score towards the end of opening half.

The second half was lively and again in a see saw affair until the Mutoma moment of brilliance on the to secure the game for the home side.

Hwange could have added to their advantage but the young striker continued to fluff his lines in front of goal much to the frustrations of the edgy home fans.

Madeya then single handedly denied Highlanders a share of the points 10 minutes from time when he summoned all his reflexes to deny substitute Calvin Chigonero from point blank range with the entire Bosso bench and fans already celebrating.

As much as they huffed and puffed in the dying stages of the encounter, Bosso could not breach the Hwange rearguard well marshalled by Godwin Goriyati and Lucas Sibanda whose pairing was a marvel to watch the whole afternoon.

At the end of the day , it was sweet revenge for the coal miners who lost the reverse fixture at Barbourfields Stadium in a match they conceded a very late goal.

Edmore Sibanda, standing in for  Dube whose voice had gone hoarse, through barking of instructions praised the boys for the gallant show.

“ It was such a good and spirited performance by the boys who always raise their game when playing big teams.They are still learning and I happy they will continue such impressive results like this one today” said Sibanda.

His opposite number Baltemar Brito said his charges gave a good account of themselves despite the loss.

“ We lost the game due to a lapse in concentration by the boys that led to the goal but congratulations to them for the show. We wanted a win but it could not be the case that is the game of football “ he said.

Yesterday’s encounter drew òne of the largest crowds ever witnessed at the Colliery Stadium and in the end football was the winner as there was no crowd trouble even after the game as Bosso fans accepted the defeat.