Bulawayo — HIGHLANDERS will live to rue the several chances they missed as they shared the spoils with Bantu Rovers in this Premiership soccer match at Barbourfields yesterday.

Chipo Tsodzo's arrival at Highlanders did not do much to help the Bulawayo giants as they struggled to score after they played impressively in the first half but lacked the killer-punch.

Five minutes into the first half, Bosso could have scored their first goal of the afternoon, but Tsodzo's effort, from a brilliant pass by Highlanders man-of-the match Bruce Kangwa, saved by Bantu goalkeeper Washington Arubi.

Two minutes later, midfield workhorse Stephen Alimenda's shot from outside the box went wide.

Tsodzo once more could have put the Bulawayo giants into the lead, hardly a minute later, after twisting and turning, beating the porous Bantu defence, but his hard drive from inside the box also missed the target.

Bantu Rovers were not to be left out of the system as in the ninth minute Mkhululi Moyo was brought down outside the penalty box by Alimenda and Thabani Moyo's free-kick went over the bar.

Impressive Kangwa beat two men in the 11th minute and was close to scoring, but was thwarted by an alert Herbert Dick, marshalling the Bantu Rovers defence.

Unpredictable Eric Mudzingwa could have put Highlanders in the lead after he was sent through by young Protasho Kabwe in the 12th minute but his effort was saved by Arubi when the Bosso fans were already up in the air, celebrating a goal.

With only the goalkeeper to beat three minutes later, instead of heading the ball towards goal, Mudzingwa mis-timed and chested the ball, which was taken away from him by the goalkeeper.

New boy for Bantu Rovers Honey Chimutimunzeve saw his header going over the bar in the 19th minute.

Bosso striker Nqobile Mpala collected a pass from Kangwa in the 27th minute and his shot from outside the box missed the target, with the Bantu Rovers' defence at sixes and sevens.

In the 33rd minute, Bantu Rovers' man-of-the-match, dreadlocked Arnold Tshuma's blistering shot was saved by an alert Ariel Sibanda.

Bantu Rovers started gaining confidence 10 minutes before the breather but could not penetrate the water-tight Highlanders defence of Gift Lunga Jnr, Brighton Dube, Ngodzo and latest acquisition, former Railstars defender Innocent Mapuranga.

Hard-working Mkhululi Moyo could have scored in the 38th minute but was pulled down by Mapuranga before he pulled the trigger.

But referee Khanyile Mlilo, who otherwise had a sterling performance with assistants Cosmas Nyoni and Tiwone Kacheche, waved play on.

A dull second half did not bring much excitement as it was characterised by nasty incidents, as Tshuma was yellow-carded for hacking down Mudzingwa, while Thabani Moyo was cautioned for an infringement on Zephaniah Ngodzo.

Dick was sent off for an early shower after he was shown the red card in the 78th minute for foul language towards the referee.

Bantu Rovers brought in Qinani Sibanda for Graham Ncube in their strikeforce but the change did not make any difference for the Premier Soccer League debutantes.

A solo effort by Lunga Jnr in the 63rd minute went over the bar.

After the match, Highlanders coach Madinda Ndlovu, who is yet to win a game in seven matches, was at it again as he refused to comment, maintaining his stance that he will not talk to The Chronicle.

Teams

Highlanders: A. Sibanda, S. Alimenda, B. Dube, I. Mapuranga, P. Kabwe, B. Kangwa, G. Lunga, E. Mudzingwa, Z. Ngodzo, C. Tsodzo, N. Mpala (R. Choruma 70th minute).

Bantu Rovers: W. Arubi, K. Banda, H. Dick, D. Ndlovu, S. Sibanda, G. Ncube (Q. Sibanda 53rd minute), M. Moyo, T Moyo, H. Dick, G. Majoni, H. Chimutimunzeve (M. Nyokanhete 89th minute), A. Tshuma.