Caps United emerged victorious in a pulsating encounter against Highlanders at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday, winning 2-1 in a match that lived up to its billing as the mother of all battles.
The visitors, who had not beaten Highlanders at home in 11 years, came out firing on all cylinders, with a clever free-kick routine yielding the opening goal in the 33rd minute. Chamboko’s set-piece found Kudzai Chigwida unmarked in the box, and the midfielder did justice to the delivery, directing the ball into the far corner of the net.
Highlanders, who had been on a roll prior to the match, pushed hard for an equalizer, but Caps United’s defense was resolute, and they were punished again in the 61st minute. Chaliwa’s glancing header from a set-piece doubled the visitors’ lead, leaving Aaron Ngwenya, the Highlanders goalkeeper, looking on in despair.
The hosts did pull one back in the 74th minute through captain Darlington, but it was too little, too late, as Caps United held on for a well-deserved win.
The victory lifts Caps United to the top of the log, and they will be looking to build on this momentum in their upcoming fixtures. Coach Takesure Chiragwi was ecstatic about his team’s performance, saying,
“You have to break the history for you to make history. We made ourselves clear the lines very well, and this win is going to motivate the players in our next assignments.”
Highlanders, on the other hand, will be disappointed with the defeat, which complicates their position and sends them back to the drawing board.
Coach Benjani Mwaruwari will be looking to regroup his team and bounce back stronger in their next match.
