Chipangano crumbled like a house of cards as Knox Mutizwa outclassed and outshined the hosts and kicked off Bosso’s start to the new season with a second half brace to stun the usually tricky coalminers to give the Bulawayo giants three nil win over Hwange in a Castle Lager Premiership match at the Colliery.
Bruce Kangwa had given Highlanders the lead in the 77th to finally unlock Hwange’s rigid defense to send the visitors supporters into a frenzy.
Tightly contested match kicked off with Bosso conceding many errors with Hwange taking more control with both teams taking their time to settle down.
Bosso clearly showed their attacking intent as early as the 8th minute with Mutizwa being fouled and taking up responsibility to send a curler of a free kick from the edge of the box which was easily dealt with by an impressive London Zulu.
Bosso came baying for blood as Honest Moyo headed over the bar , Zulu was alert enough to correct his mistake as he sent out a shot from Mutizwa who had latched onto a fluff pass by the Hwange goalie.
Hwange then came to life with Andrew Tshuma sending a screamer that was tipped over by an alert Ariel Sibanda, Bosso managed to deflect several attacks from Hwange by forcing corners.
In the 22nd Highlanders took control of the game again and kept up the pressure , as Mutizwa , Honest Moyo and Ralph Matema linked up well to give Hwange a torrid time London Zulu saved the coalminers the blushes as he stood his ground and used his tall frame to deny the efforts of the assault.
Bruce Kangwa’s deft cross went unused as no one in the black and white made an effort to guide it past an empty goal mouth.
For a short while Hwange came out of their slumber but Benson Phiri was up to the task to block Munyaradzi Mungadze’s goal bound effort to save Bosso the blushes, Hwange were at it again as a surge of pace and a deft back pass from Newman Sianchali to Innocent Mucheneke who blasted it well wide.
Tensions became high towards the end of the first stanza as a brawl broke out between Tonisani Sibelo,Innocent Mucheneka and King Nadolo after Mucheneka had fouled Nadolo.
The second half kicked off with a slow start as the match was congested in the middle of the park. Hwange would rue the missed chances as Sianchali overcooked his effort when he had a few yards to stroll in and give a decent effort.
Hwange wasted another chance to grab the lead as Sibelo, Sianchali and Pritchard Mupelele failed to punish Bosso but resorted to a game off pin ball clearly displaying a lack of confidence to score against an open Bosso rearguard.
Felix Chindungwe was carded for a vicious challenge on Sibelo who was later stretched off, Hwange chose the wrong time to launch an attack as Bruce Kangwa was afforded enough the space to slot home the opener.
It was all downhill for the hosts from there as the last minutes saw them crumble as they failed to have an answer to Highlanders onslaught, Zulus earlier heroics all faded into oblivion with Prince Dube’s effort being sent out by Zulu’s outstretched foot before Knox Mutizwa was unleashed.
The drum beating Chipangano fans had all hope knocked out of them as Mutizwa cemented the visitors lead with two consecutive goals in the in the dying minute with bitter home fans and players screaming for off sides.
Highlanders XI:
Ariel Sibanda; Felix Chindungwe; Bruce Kangwa; Simon Munawa; King Nadolo; Tendai Ndlovu; Douglas Sibanda; Honest Moyo; Benson Phiri; Ralph Matema; Knox Mutizwa