Simba Bhora . . . . . . . . 0
Scottland . . . . . . . . . . . 0
A tense, goalless draw at a heaving Wadzanayi Stadium saw defending champions Simba Bhora and title rivals Scottland share the spoils, leaving the championship race wide open with just six matches remaining.
The result left Simba Bhora at the top of the log with a slim two-point advantage, a lead that Scottland believes is very much surmountable.
This top of the table clash, lived up to its billing, offering a tale of two halves.
The visitors dominated the first half and will feel aggrieved that they didn't go into the break with a lead.
The major talking point came in the 38th minute when a powerful header from striker Tymon Machope struck the underside of the crossbar and appeared to cross the line before being cleared by Blessed Ndereki.
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Television replays later confirmed the ball had indeed crossed the line, a clear goal that was missed by the officials.
Before that, Scottland's star player Khama Billiat had a golden opportunity to open the scoring.
Put clean through on goal by his Warriors teammate Knowledge Musona, the former Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns star hesitated, allowing a defender to get back and clear the danger.
Simba Bhora coach Joel Luphahla made a pivotal change at the half, bringing on midfielder Donald Mudadi.
The substitution immediately shifted the momentum in the home side's favour.
All of Simba Bhora's attacks began to flow through the former Dynamos star, which almost created the opener just ten minutes into the half with a sublime cross that was headed over by Ishe Mauchi.
As Scottland's players began to tire, Simba Bhora created the better chances of the second half. Emmanuel Ziocha had their team's best opportunity, but his shot went wide of the target.
Their inability to find the net was nearly punished late on when Machope rounded Simba Bhora keeper William Thole and slotted the ball into an empty net, but the effort was ruled offside.
The match's final dramatic moment came when Scottland substitute Terence Dzvukamanja met a cross from Shidolo, but his close-range header was saved brilliantly by Thole, ensuring the match ended in a stalemate.
Both coaches expressed satisfaction with the result. Luphahla praised his team's performance under pressure.
"I'm proud of my boys," Luphahla said.
"We are the defending champions, and we were playing at home, so there was a lot of pressure. But the boys were relaxed.
“To get a point, I think it's fair. In the first half, they had better chances, and in the second half, we had better chances.
“At the end of the day, I'm happy we managed to get a draw."
Scottland coach Tonderai Ndiraya, who was returning to the stadium where he led the same team to a league title last season, also expressed his contentment with a point, despite the missed opportunities.
The draw leaves Simba Bhora with 55 points, two clear of Scottland.
Both teams will now take a break from league action as Simba Bhora begins their CAF Champions League campaign at the weekend, while Scottland travels to Highlanders for their Chibuku Super Cup quarter-final clash.
Teams
Simba Bhora: W Thole, B Mutukure, W Tafa, I Mauchi, B Ndereki (D Mudadi, 46'), B Ncube, B Moyo, J Makunike (M Mushore, 66'), I Nyanhi, E Ziocha (M Kuleya, 80'), I Gurirab (T Mandinyenya, 66').
Scottland: N Chadya, P Mudhuwa, A Manenji, G Murwira, K Moyo ( M Tapera, 85'), K Mureremba (T Dzvukamanja, 65'), M Shidolo, W Musona, K Musona (M Msebe, 65'), W Musona, K Billiat (A Botchway, 65'), T Machope (R Pfumbidzai, 85').
