Mutuma strikes again!

Sport
HIGHLANDERS failed once again to exorcise the Dynamos ghost when the visitors took advantage of one clear cut chance to score the winner in a tension field Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday.

Highlanders . . . (0) 0 Dynamos . . . (0) 1

By Thandiwe Moyo

HIGHLANDERS failed once again to exorcise the Dynamos ghost when the visitors took advantage of one clear cut chance to score the winner in a tension field Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday.

Ugly scenes after the match saw police having to deploy law enforcement agents who fired teargas canisters at rowdy supporters outside the stadium.

A number of vehicles had their screens shattered as disgruntled supporters threw stones and other forms of missiles while some people are believed to have been injured in the fracas.

Supporters started throwing missiles into the field during the match. Dynamos goal scorer Rodrick Mutuma and Murape Murape were accused of being the main culprits in sparking the violence.

Mutuma was showered with missiles when he seemed to have feigned injury just outside the Highlanders box. When Highlanders supporters threw missiles at him he appeared to have shouted insulting words at the fans.

He had done the same when he scored.

Murape claimed that he had been hit by a missile but there were none next to the veteran player who had to be taken out of the field of play to be treated. Mutuma scored the only goal for Dynamos three minutes into the second half of the match after taking advantage of a deflection off Bruce Kangwa with goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda off his mark.

It was the first home defeat for Highlanders this season who moved to third place on the log with 32 points. ZPC Kariba lead the standings on 35 points mark while Dynamos are now second with 35 points as well.

Dynamos coach Kalisto Pasuwa refused to give a post-match interview despite being called by journalists. He only granted SuperSport an interview before disappearing into the tunnel. Kelvin Kaindu for Highlanders said the result was unfair as his team played well.

“It is difficult because sometimes the results are not fair. I think the better side lost today. If you see the way we dominated the first half, we had a number of chances that we created and their only chance was from the back line and they capitalised.

“I think in terms of playing, it doesn’t carry much bearing as much as we saw a bit of improvement in the way we were playing and we were dominating but what is important at the end of the day is to collect maximum points. We could have capitalised because we created so many chances and we did not convert them.

“We need to have the right character and believe in ourselves. We have lost at home again we can focus and believe in ourselves. I think the first thing we need to do is pick maximum points,” said Kaindu.

Highlanders dominated play throughout the match but failed to find the target and could have scored as early as 30 seconds into the match.

Njabulo Ncube’ shot after a move instituted by Charles Sibanda and Pasca Manhanga was saved.

In the eighth minute Charles’ cross failed to find its intended target with Augustine Mbara clearing as Highlanders charged forward. Joel Ngodzo’s blistering shot from just outside the box was tipped over the bar by Artwell Mukandi in goals for Dynamos.

In the 28th minute Highlanders had their best chance of the match but an unmarked Charles aimed for the birds instead.

It was only in the 31st minute that Dynamos had their first shot at goal through Tafadzwa Rusike but went straight to Ariel.

Five minutes later Rusike had his shot from a dead ball situation punched away while in the 43rd minute Mutuma beat Mapuranga but sent a weak shot towards goals which was safely collected by Ariel.

In the second half Mutuma scored the only goal of the day in the 48th minute which gave Dynamos the confidence over Highlanders who put themselves under pressure.

Simba Sithole’s 63rd minute effort was saved and in the 83rd minute Felix Chindungwe’s flick also found the goalkeeper ready.