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 Highlanders....(0)1
Caps FC.........(1)1
CBZ PSL, 13 April 07 Scorer: Richard Choruma.
VETERAN midfielder Richard Choruma struck at the death of the match to salvage a point for hosts Highlanders against bogey side CAPS FC in an exciting CBZ Premiership match at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday.
It meant that the 2006 champions had dropped four points in two draws against Harare opposition following a goalless draw with Lengthens at Gwanzura on Wednesday.
The visitors, who derailed Highlanders’ championship aspirations last year with a 3-1 win in Harare, scored through former Hwange striker Stephen Kahondo in the 43rd minute and missed two glaring chances in the second half, which could have put the game beyond Highlanders’ reach.
But they crumbled under pressure and Choruma, with the ease of a veteran, coolly beat goalkeeper Ronald Mudimu in the 89th minute.
CAPS FC coach Takaendesa Jongwe conceded that they could have grabbed the three points, but crumbled when it mattered most.
"We held on, but unfortunately we cracked at the end. We had a lot of chances but we could not get the goals we needed, but a point away from home is good for us," he said after the match.
Highlanders technical manager Methembe Ndlovu said his charges showed a lot of character in the match.
"You need to win at home, but I think it was a satisfactory performance and the boys showed a lot of character in the match," he said in his post-match interview.
The two points dropped from the match followed Wednesday’s 0-0 draw against Lengthens in Harare and they now have five points from three matches.
Highlanders played the match without the injured trio of Stephen Alimenda, Eric Mudzingwa and Jacob Muzokomba.
CAPS FC stunned Highlanders two minutes from the end of the first half.
Th skilful Christopher Samakwere started the move on the left and fed Bernard, whose shot pass was collected by Kahondo, who used his left to beat Arubi at the far corner and from there it looked like the CAPS FC ghost had returned to haunt Highlanders again.
Cuthbert Malajila almost drew level in the first minute of injury time in a goalmouth scramble after Choruma and Sibanda had worked out a flowing move, but he just could not get proper footing to get a goal.
Early in the second half, More Moyo had the best chance to finish off Highlanders when Samakwere broke free on the right and sent in a well timed cross that Moyo met face to face with Arubi, but chose to send the ball wide with the Highlanders defence nowhere in sight.
Malajila could have equalised in the 86th minuite, but he was too slow in the box and Khola threw himself at the ball to force a corner, which was not used by Highlanders.
Moyo seemed to argue with his coach in the 87th minute over instructions, which seemed rather irresponsible for a captain.
Then Choruma struck in the 89th minute as a Highlanders attack saw Zimbago feeding Malajila in the box, but he failed to control and the ball came off his body to fall invitingly for the midfielder. Choruma coolly controlled and dummied and when the ‘keeper went down, he placed the ball home and they raided the CAPS goal in search of a winner.
Teams
Highlanders: W Arubi, L Nkomo (J Ngodzo 70th min), G Lunga, G Goddard, G Banda, H Dick, R Choruma, P Kabwe (A Mbaiwa 66th min), W Sibanda, D Zimbago, C Malajila.
CAPS FC: R Mudimu, P Bernard, B Chimwamuchere, R Khola, C Machona, M Mudiwa, C Samakwere, A Gutu (A Muganyi 65th min), S Kahondo, M Moyo (T Mwarura 90th min), V Siziba The Herald
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