HIGHLANDERS...........(1) 1
CHICKEN INN... ..........(2) 2
BULAWAYO CHIEFS... (0) 1
SIMBA BHORA.... .............0
CHICKEN Inn handed Highlanders their first 2024 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League defeat to claim the Bulawayo bragging rights in an exciting match at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday.
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Highlanders, however remain on top of the log-standings with 14 points after Simba Bhora fell to Bulawayo Chiefs 1-0 at Luveve Stadium yesterday to stay on second spot with 13 points.
Never Rauzhi was on target for Chiefs in the 77th minute.
Brian Muza scored the first goal for Chicken Inn in the eighth minute, making a solo run on a counter attack, dribbling past defender Archford Faira and letting off what appeared a simple shot, but a diving Ariel Sibanda failed to make a save.
Another blunder by Sibanda in the 16th minute gifted Chicken Inn the second goal when, in an attempt to make a clearance from an equally poor back pass from Brian Mlotshwa, he sent the ball direct onto the path of Michael Charamba who made no mistake.
Highlanders Kelvin Kaindu made a quick substitution in the 23rd minute, replacing right back Mlotshwa with Mvelo Khosa who went on to have a brilliant afternoon.
But it was in the centre where Highlanders were found wanting with Devine Mhindirira and Mckinnon Mushore chasing shadows.
Lynoth Chikuhwa scored his fifth goal of the season with a shot from the right in the 34th minute as Highlanders crept back into the game with the young Prince Ndlovu troubling the Chicken Inn defence.
Kaindu said the loss was a bitter pill to swallow.
“You can tell from the response from our players that the defeat was painful and even before the game, we knew Chicken Inn was going to be a difficult game for us, but we wanted to build character in our team so that we can also stand and compete with everybody,” he said.
Chicken Inn's Joey Antipas said they had it all planned out for Highlanders.
“It was a good victory, playing against Highlanders is not an easy task. We had a game plan for Highlanders; attack them from the beginning and press them in their half. We know that the Highlanders players, especially the defence, when they are on the ball, under pressure, they panick and that is exactly what happened,” Antiapas said.
Chicken Inn are now on 12 points at par with FC Platinum.
Highlanders had an early opportunity in the sixth minute, but Andrew Mbeba's powerful free-kick was punched back into play by Chicken Inn goalkeeper Donovan Bernard.
Highlanders came from the break the better side, raiding Chicken Inn left right and centre, with Ndlovu continuing to be a menace, but Bernard stood his ground between the goalposts for Chicken Inn.
The second half did not produce any goals.
Teams
Highlanders: A Sibanda, B Mlotshwa (M Khosa 23'), A Faira, A Mbeba, P Muduhwa, M Ncube, P Ndlovu (R Sibanda 84'), D Mhindirira, L Chikuhwa (B Ndlovu 80'), M Mushore, B Ncube
Chicken Inn: D Bernard, J Tulani, X Ndlovu, I Mabunu, K Chinda, D Phiri, M Hwata (B Rendo 54'), M Charamba, B Muza, L Mangaira, G Majika (B Mpofu 70').