Students teach Bosso a lesson – Newsday Zimbabwe

It was clear from the start that Herental's strategy of playing physically was working, as Bosso struggled to play his usual game and appeared uncoordinated. Coach Kelvin Kaindu had to make three substitutions at half-time, having dropped a player behind before the break.

Highlander. . . . . . . . . . (0) 1

Herentals. . . . . .. . . . . . .(1) 2

HERENTALS walked away with a famous win at the Barboufields Stadium after a memorable brace from Clemence Gobvu was enough to keep the lethargic Highlanders at bay in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match.

It was clear from the start that Herental's strategy of playing physically was working, as Bosso struggled to play his usual game and appeared uncoordinated. Coach Kelvin Kaindu had to make three substitutions at half-time, having dropped a player behind before the break.

Herentals coach Celestine Benza was overjoyed after the final whistle.

“A lovely win, a very, very lovely one. Especially considering this was our first win against the Highlanders, both home and away, since we were promoted to the Premiership. We are very happy, especially on their home ground.

“We just had to try to make sure they didn't play particularly in our defensive third because we knew they were very dangerous passing into the attacking third. We let them play at the back and clogged up our defensive third and that worked very well,” Benza said.

In the first minute, Arthur Ndlovu misjudged a long ball and almost gave Herentals the first goal, but he managed to clear the ball and win a corner. The students were motivated and forced two corners in the first minutes of the game.

In the third minute, Ndlovu was penalised for a foul on Tino Benza on the edge of the box and Herentals were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box. Tino's attempt was disappointing as it was blocked by the Bosso wall.

Bosso grew in confidence and came out of his cocoon. After 12 minutes, Honest Mhlanga turned in midfield and was fouled just inside the halfway line. Marvelous Chigumira's long-range shot hit the post.

The encounter was physical and marred by too many interruptions as referee Mhaka Magara seemed to lose control of the attacks from both sets of players.

Herentals took the lead after 43 minutes through a free kick from Gobvu, after Chigumira had fouled Erick Dembo on the approaching side in Bosso's half.

Gobvu could have made it 2-0 in injury time, but he stunned everyone when he couldn't pick his place on the edge of the box after a throw-out from Tino.

In the second half, substitute Grey Kufandada beat the offside trap and set up a pass for Dembo, but Reward Muza made a brilliant save. Bosso equalised after 53 minutes thanks to Lynoth Chikuhwa's eighth goal of the season.

Herentals regained the lead after a brief stoppage of play after Bosso fans protested against an offside decision. When play resumed, Herentals were awarded a corner in the 62nd minute. A header from Gobvu, from a cross from Dembo, from a corner that was hotly contested as the Bosso players argued that the ball should have been awarded as a throw-in and not a corner, beat Muza and rolled into the net.

From then on, Herentals held on and went home with the maximum score.

Kaindu accepted the defeat and lamented the mistakes of his defense. “Very frustrating. You could see from the kick-off that it was going to be a very difficult game for us today. From the first whistle, we looked so nervous in defense. We could have conceded a penalty through a long ball. From then on, we made our own mistakes again, we had problems with the defense that played in the last game. Even the goals they scored, we gave them but they didn't work for those goals,” Kaindu said.

Highlanders FC

R Muza, T Dube (G Makaruse 46), B Mlotshwa (P Muduhwa 46), M Mason, M McKinnon, N Ndlovu, H Mhlanga, A Ndlovu, N Rauzhi (L Chik M Chigumira

Herentals

H Chikosa, A Maliselo (M Chimedza 82), B Phiri, E Dombo (M Mekiwa 69), T Benza (B Majarira 90), J Tafadzwa, B Majarira (G Kufandada 46) C Nyatondo, Z Ruguchu, I Benza (W Kapumha 46), C Gobvu

Results of Matchday 25 of the Castle Lager Premiership

Full time:

Highlanders – Herentals 1:2

Dynamos – Chegutu Pirates 1-0

Hwange 1-0 Chicken Inn

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