HIGHLANDERS striker Sautso Phiri scored a controversial goal to help the wasteful Zimbabwe soccer champions edge their Mozambican counterparts Costa do Sol in their African Champions League first round, first leg tie at Barbourfields Stadium here yesterday.
Playing before an estimated 35 000 fans who backed them from start to finish, Highlanders dominated the better part of the game and a 3-0 margin could not have flattered them.
However, the goals proved elusive as Highlanders strikers took turns to fire blanks. Phiri, who gave the visiting defenders all sorts of problems every time he was in possession, jerked the home fans from their seats with five minutes remaining on the clock when he headed home an overhead pass from Bekithemba Ndlovu.
Richard Choruma initiated the move on the right when he spotted Ndlovu who had overlapped to the edge of the box. Ndlovu, in a marvellous display of skill and composure, chested the ball down and made an overhead kick that sent the ball to the unattended Phiri who beat Costa do Sol goalkeeper Guande Alcino with a dipping header.
The ball first hit the underside of cross bar and Zambian referee Andrew Chungu and his first assistant referee Nasautso Nkunu concurred that it had crossed the line.
Costa do Sol players then mobbed both officials disputing the goal as they claimed that the ball did not cross the line.
The players took turns to manhandle referee Chungu at the centre of the park and riot police stormed into the pitch to protect the match official.
The assistant referee also suffered the wrath of the Mozambican bench who confronted him.
After the goal, Highlanders continued to pile pressure with Phiri, who was outstanding all day, causing anxious moments to the visitors defence.
The hosts could have doubled the scoreline three minutes later through substitute Macrezah Navaya. However, when it appeared easier to score than to miss, Navaya shocked all and sundry when he blasted over the bar a brilliant hard and low cross from Phiri with the goal yawning.
Phiri intercepted a pass from Costa do Sol defender Sota Joao, drew the goalkeeper off his line before sending a square pass to striking partner Navaya who fluffed an opportunity to score his first goal in an international match.
Navaya could have registered the miss of the day but he was not alone in squandering chances.
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Usually reliable Thabani Masawi, who was later substituted for Navaya, could have put Highlanders in the driving seat eight minutes into the second-half after being set up by Charles Chilufya inside the box but he reacted slowly until alert defender Nhabulimgu Nildo dispossessed him.
The hosts also had a "goal" disallowed in the 68th minute by the Zambian referee who adjudged Phiri to have pushed the ball into the nets with his hands.
Navaya sent a hard and low drive into the crowded box. It was flicked by substitute Darlington Phiri to the far left post and Phiri ghosted from the blind side and hit the back of the nets with goalkeeper Alcino on the wrong side of action.
The match started at a cracking pace with Highlanders calling the shots with left back Gift Lunga, Chilufya, Noel Kaseke and Phiri playing their hearts out.
Zambian import Chilufya had a number of shots on target that were well dealt with by Alcino.
The Mozambicans also had their moments. They raised their game in the second-half after the introduction of Cumbe Bernardo who even dazzled home fans with deft touches that made a difference in the midfield.
Sensing danger, Highlanders coach Edwin May introduced seasoned defender Thulani Ncube to replace Kaseke and fortify the defence.
Butana Edonlundo looked up in disbelief after Highlanders goalkeeper Tapuwa Kapini stopped his left-footer after connecting a corner kick from Nildo.
The Mozambicans had a cautious approach, preferring to launch sporadic attacks that found Highlanders defenders Ndlovu, Melody Wafawanaka, Dazzy Kapenya and Lunga at their best.
The second leg will be played in Maputo next Sunday.
