Dynamos . . . . . . . . . .0
Highlanders . . . . . . . 0
***Highlanders won 5-3 on penalties
A Ten-man Highlanders outfit put up a gallant performance to beat Dynamos after a penalty shootout to retain the Independence Trophy in Mt Darwin yesterday.
It was a historic final as it was held outside Harare and Bulawayo for the first time.
Nigerian striker Emmanuel Paga was the villain for DeMbare as he was the only player to miss his spot kick.
Highlanders, who played about an hour with one man less, showed character to hang on for a draw in regulation time having been on the backfoot for the larger part of the match.
The winners walked away with a US$35 000 cheque for their troubles while the runners-up got US$25 000.
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The Bulawayo giants were perfect during the penalty lottery with all their takers finding the back of the net.
Captain Ariel Sibanda was the first to score, with Brighton Manhire, Melikhaya Ncube, McKinnon Mushore and Peter Muduhwa following suit.
It was Muduhwa, who took the winning penalty.
For Dynamos, Donald Dzvinyai, Arthur Musiyiwa and Ellie Ilunga scored while Paga missed Dynamos’ third kick.
Dynamos coach Herbert Maruwa was disappointed after missing out on the trophy.
“We started very well and created chances in the first half. They were one man down and we failed to utilise the numerical advantage. Our strikers were wasteful and they were hurrying their decisons,” Maruwa said.
“This cup was very important for us especially because this was a big day for Zimbabweans and as a coach I would have been happy to have one trophy in the cabinet,” he added.
His counterpart Baltimer Brito was thrilled about the resilience that his players showed in winning the cup.
“I would like to say congratulations to my players for being focused today. I think it was easy for us to win this cup because it’s only one game, and it’s not about collecting points the whole season like in the league championship,” he said.
A tense and highly physical first half saw referee Lawrence Zimondi dish no less than three cards including a red for Highlanders defender Andrew Mbeba after a crude tickle on Nyasha Chintuli about 10 minutes before the break.
Earlier, Stanley Ngala had been cautioned for remonstrating against the referee’s decision while Tanaka Shandirwa was yellow carded for aggressive play.
The newly-built Mupfure Stadium did not help matters as it made it difficult for both teams to play slick passing football due to its bumpy state.
But the atmosphere was electric as an estimated 10 000 crowd cheered on their teams.
Dynamos dominated the exchanges with winger Keith Madera who was making his debut, a livewire on the left flank.
Enjoying numerical advantage, DeMbare continued to bombard the Highlanders goal looking for the all-important goal but the Bulawayo side’s defence stood firm.
Chintuli thought he had given DeMbare the lead just after the hour mark but his headed goal at the back post was ruled offside.
Paga had a brilliant opportunity to win the match in regulation time for running through on goal but failing to find the target in the 85th minute.
In the end, Bosso clung on for the victory.
Teams
Dynamos: T Mvula, E Moyo, K Moyo, K Madera (T Matindife 46'), D Dzvinyai, J Makunike, E Jalai, E Ziocha (T Makaenda 76'), J Bakare (E Paga 63'), N Chintuli (A Musiyiwa 76'), T Shandirwa ( E Ilunga 46')
Highlanders: E Sibanda, L Chikuhwa (M. Mushore 83') , B Manhire, G Makaruse (A Faira 76'), A Mbeba, M Mushore, P Muduhwa, S Ngala(W Navaya 70'), D Mukuli, M Ndlovu, M Ncube
