HIGHLANDERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
TRIANGLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0
HIGHLANDERS once again failed to collect maximum points as they were held to a goalless draw by troubled Triangle in a dull Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Barbourfields Stadium.
Under coach Try Ncube, it’s been one win (against Green Fuel), two draws to bottom-placed Kwekwe United and lowly Triangle and two defeats to MWOS and Scottland FC.
Two big misses in either half by Marvin Sibanda and Reason Sibanda characterised the otherwise lukewarm tie in which the two sides shared the spoils.
The Bulawayo giants remain stagnant on position eight with 28 points as they hit the road to face Caps United at Rufaro Stadium on Sunday, with coach Ncube disappointed that his boys are creating chances, but failing to convert them into goals.
“It’s another game that we failed to finish off the chances that came our way. I am very disappointed about that,” he said.
“Luck is not on our side, we are failing to convert the chances. We just have to be confident and we must not hurry. We go back to the drawing board and work on attacking patterns.”
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His counterpart Genesis Mangombe was happy with the draw, but said it was not the best of result as they head back home to host Bikita Minerals at the weekend.
“I can take that as a better result, but not a good one. We got the chances to kill the game even after our opponents had created several chances,” the TelOne coach said.
“Playing against Highlanders is not easy all the time. I am happy that we managed to concede because we are in the relegation zone and we need maximum points but at times when playing a team like Highlanders, you accept a draw.”
The first meaningful opportunity for Highlanders came six minutes before half time when dribbling wizard Mafious Chihweta criss-crossed the Triangle defence from the right wing, set Marvin inside the box, but the striker was slow before the ball was cleared away to safety.
Two minutes after the break, Reason had another glorious chance, unmarked inside the penalty box, but sent his effort way off target.
A poorly defended corner-kick almost cost Highlanders in the 59th minute as Triangle’s Arnold Mawadza’s shot inside the box from a loose ball was safely collected by an alert goalkeeper Reward Muza.
Another big miss for Highlanders came in the 68th minute and the culprit once again was Reason, skying his effort way above the cross bar just close to the goal line with only goalkeeper Takudzwa Chikosi to beat after a spectacular cross by the evergreen Chihweta.
Triangle are on position three from the bottom of the log standings with 21 points from 22 games, just above anchors Kwekwe United on just nine points and Dynamos on 16.
