Highlanders FC..........(1)3

Green Fuel..... ................0

A VINTAGE second half performance powered Highlanders into the Chibuku Super Cup quarter-finals defeating Green Fuel at Barboufields Stadium.

The first half was a cagey affair with Bosso scoring deep into the referee's optional time. They created more chances, but the visitors gave a good fight.

In the sixth minute, Melikhaya Ncube attempted a long-range shot, but his effort sailed over the bar. Just after 20 minutes into the game, play was stopped due to an injury to Bosso goalkeeper Raphael Pitisi.

The injury prompted an emotional return to action for veteran goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda who replaced Pitisi, with a rupturous welcome from the Bosso fans.

Deep into the referee's optional time, Melikhaya thrust Bosso into the lead. After receiving a delicate pass from Prince Ndlovu, Melikhaya exploited the Green Fuel defence's failure to track him, lurking on the blind side. With an open path to goal, the midfielder had the simplest of tasks, flicking the ball home

Green Fuel disputed referee Busani Siwawa and first assistant Wirimai Muroyiwa's decision to award the goal. Green Fuel coach Saul Chaminuka felt that was the turning point of the game. "I think we played well but we didn't conclude our attacks convincingly although but the turning point was the first goal of the match. "You see, you end up not knowing how to evaluate your players. Is it because of that goal, (or) is it because of what (exactly).

"When you concede a goal in a manner that we conceded, everybody is disturbed. Everything was okay up until that moment. We came back and we tried to play but I am saying that's when you look at your players and say are we failing to play or they have been affected by that goal," said Chaminuka.

The first chance in the second half fell to Green Fuel as they sought to draw parity. After 49 minutes, Brian Chikwenya's full bloodied effort was punched back into play by Sibanda, although the best option was for Chikwenya to go for precision rather than power having left two Bosso defenders for dead.

Against the run of play, Prince Ndlovu once again came up with another assist, this time for Nqobile Ndlovu in the 65 minute. The youngster receiving a pass from Brighton inside the box turned and sent a pass to Nqobile who controlled, turned and placed it home with Green Fuel goalkeeper Tendai Chirara reduced to a mere spectator.

Buoyed by the second goal, Bosso were playing with their tails up. A minute later, substitute Nqobile turned provider, but substitute Honest Mhlanga shot agonisingly wide with an open goal. 

In the 70th minute man-of-the match Prince, playing with a lot of confidence had his attempt from the left tipped over by Chirara for a corner kick as Green Fuel kept on back pedalling.

Marvellous Chigumira then put the icing on the cake with the third goal. Receiving a pass from Nqobile, he fired a powerful strike that was deflected by left back Honest Moyo and deceived Chirara to sail to the net in the 81st minute.

There was time for Bosso coach Kelvin Kaindu to introduce youngsters Mayibongwe Ndlovu and Nigel Banda as Green Fuel were cowed into submission with Bosso toying with their opponents towards the end of the game and Prince the crowd favourite playing to the gallery.

Kaindu was happy that his charges managed to score three goals since the game they played against Chegutu Pirates at the same stadium in April. "It was not easy, our opponents came tactically good. We laboured and struggled to get the first goal but when we got it, we knew that the game will be open. That's what they did, they tried to come at us and we responded. we haven't scored three goals for a while and for us to score three goals today is a plus.

Yes, as much as we scored three, we could have managed to score more goals but it's unfortunate that we missed. Congratulations to the team, it was not easy. We had to make four changes to the team that played last week because of injuries on certain players. Even today we were forced to make an early substitution on our goalkeeper," said Kaindu.

Highlanders FC

R Pitisi (A Sibanda 24), T Dube, M Chigumira, L Chikuhwa ( H Mhlanga 66), M Mushore (B Ndlovu 87), P Ndlovu, P Muduhwa, N Ndlovu (M Ndlovu 87), A Ndlovu, B Ncube (N Banda 87), M Ncube

Green Fuel

T Chirara, B Chikwenya, R Chinemo, H Moyo, C Ngwende (N Mwasanga 66), T Pfende, D Ngoma (C Duhwa 64), G Dematsika (T Mhunye 87), D Mutimuzunze (N Takawira 66), C Rupiya (W Mapuwa 64), D Nhongo