Highlanders . . . . . . . . (0) 1 FC Platinum . . . . . . . . . (0) 1 Highlanders won 4-3 in a penalty shootout
Highlanders goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda once again displayed his penalty kick-saving antics when he denied two FC Platinum players, to ensure his team booked a berth in the ZNA Commander’s Charities Shied at Barbourfields yesterday.
BY FORTUNE MBELE
Sibanda saved the third and fourth spot kicks from twins Kevin and Elvis Moyo and conceded the first by skipper Winston Mhango, Walter Musona’s second and the fifth by Tatenda Dzumbunu.
In the quarter-final on March 6, Sibanda also saved two spot kicks from league champions Chicken Inn’s Guide Goddard and Physwell Madhazi at Barbourfields, to ensure the Bulawayo giants advanced to the semi-finals with a 4-2 win in a penalty lottery.
Sibanda was ecstatic after the two saves yesterday, but was disappointed with the goal he conceded in regulation time to allow FC Platinum to cancel a Bruce Kangwa goal.
“It was a good game. I attribute the saves to teamwork in the goalkeepers’ department. It is something that we are always practising as goalkeepers at Highlanders. But I was disappointed by the goal during the match. It was a soft goal that I conceded. I was off-position. But as Highlanders, we are slowly getting there. We just need to sort out a few issues,” Sibanda said.
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Bosso scored their spot kicks through Kangwa, Rahman Kutsanzira, Simon Munawa and Ralph Matema, with Honest Moyo missing the fourth while FC Platinum got their goals through Mhango, Musona and Dzumbunu.
Yesterday’s match ended 1-1 in regulation time, with Bosso opening the floodgates eight minutes into the second half after central defender Tendai Ndlovu in Highlander’s half spotted attacking linkman Kangwa on the run on the left and the latter pushed the ball twice before unleashing a thunderbolt to the far post, beating goalkeeper Wallace Magalane all systems out.
Musona equalised for FC Platinum in the 72nd minute with a beauty from a dead ball situation after Honest had fouled an overlapping Gift Bello.
Musona’s well-struck curler from outside the penalty box left Sibanda a spectator.
Highlanders will meet the winner between ZPC Kariba and Harare City who will fight for the other final spot at Nyamhunga on Easter Sunday.
Despite the win, FC Platinum were a better side than Highlanders, especially in midfield where they played a passing game, but urgency and the killer-punch was lacking from the platinum miners.
Highlanders wasted a number of chances in the second half and could have won the game in regulation time. FC Platinum gaffer Norman Mapeza did not grant journalists interviews after the match.
