Bullets hold Bosso

Cranborne Bullets ............... (0) 1 Highlanders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 1

HIGHLANDERS failed to capitalise on Ngezi Platinum Stars’ slip-up when they were held by Cranborne Bullets at the National Sports Stadium yesterday.

Victory over the soldiers would have seen Bosso shoot back to the top of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League standings, as Ngezi Platinum Stars lost 2-0 to Chicken Inn in Bulawayo.

The Bulawayo giants are now tied with log leaders Ngezi Platinum Stars on 17 points.

However, Bosso have an inferior goal difference.

But they are the only team in the Premiership still to taste defeat.

Cranborne Bullets, who finished with 10 players following the 89th-minute expulsion of second-half substitute Yemmie Matembidzi, had earlier taken a 49th-minute lead.

Bosso conceded their goal when Mbongeni Ndlovu handled inside the box in an attempt to clear a Vincent Mhandu effort.

Bullets’ skipper Tadiwa Chibunyu made no mistake from the spot.

The visitors ensured they returned from the capital with a point when they drew level in the 64th minute from a penalty of their own, which was converted by goalkeeper and captain Ariel Sibanda.

The Bosso spot-kick was awarded after the hosts’ Xavier Janatana similarly handled in an attempt to clear a Calvin Chigonero cross.

After a slow start to the season, during which they went on a five-match winless streak, Cranborne Bullets are now unbeaten in their last three assignments.

Their coach, Nesbert Saruchera, felt hard done by referee Tichaona Mbire’s decision to wave his side’s penalty appeals a minute from full-time.

Instead, it was his player who was redcarded after he was adjudged to have dived after coming face to face with Sibanda, which earned him his second yellow card of the afternoon.

“Normally, I don’t want to talk about things that I am not in charge of but at times we are frustrated by these decisions,’’ Saruchera said.

“I thought it was a penalty. How can one dive with the ball in front of him and a keeper to beat?

“If there are laws that big teams should not lose, then they should tell us.”

Despite the last-minute setback, Saruchera felt that his charges should have buried the chances that came their way earlier on in the contest.

Midfielder Eric Manokore was behind most their best moves.

“We created more chances than them and I feel we should have scored three or four goals,’’ added Saruchera.

Highlanders coach Baltemar Brito chose to speak more about the competitiveness of the Premiership.

“Of course, we collected one point and, in my opinion, this was a good game with no time-wasting antics.

“This Premier League in Zimbabwe, sometimes people think because it’s Africa it’s easy, but it’s not easy.

“You can see Platinum win, lose and draw — it’s unpredictable,” said Brito.

The Brazilian was satisfied with the point on the road.

“We got one point and it could have been better and it could have been worse.

“We are near the top, we know Ngezi Platinum Stars lost and we have the same points, and we are one game behind and we continue to fight for the championship,” he said.