Dynamos 1-0 Highlanders
WASHINGTON Pakamisa scored the only goal of the match, ending Highlanders unbeaten record in a fiercely contested Castle Lager Premiership tie at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday.
Bosso went into the match boasting an unbeaten run in 11 games with ZPC Kariba the other team that has not lost a match since the start of the campaign.
Highlanders also went into the match with the unwanted record of not having beaten Dynamos in a league match since 2006.
The Dynamos striker found space in a tussle for the ball with Highlanders defender Innocent Mapuranga before beating goalkeeper Njabulo Nyoni with a powerful shot to send the Dynamos faithful into delirium.
Highlanders were missing goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya, defender Milton Ncube and midfielder Rio Moyo who have all signed for South African clubs.
However, not even the presence of star winger Kuda Mahachi, who is also set to leave for Mamelodi Sundowns, could rescue their game.
Coach Kelvin Kaindu threw on goalkeeper Nyoni sacrificing Aerial Sibanda but the stopper appeared nervous in his first match with the way he commanded his goal area leaving the defence exposed on several occasions.
The Bosso defence, one of the best in the premiership having allowed fewer goals than their rivals, was time and again being called to clear their lines as the Dynamos attack threatened with some dangerous raids.
In one of those raids, skipper Mapuranga saved Highlanders with a good clearance in a goal-mouth melee following a well-taken corner kick by Ocean Mushure on 20 minutes.
Dynamos midfielder Stephen Alimenda, also a former Highlanders player, partnered Devon Chafa and the duo established their superiority in the middle of the park with Joel Ngodzo and Simon Munawa playing second fiddle.
Backing their team ... Highlanders supporters at the National Sports Stadium Sunday
In the second half, Kaindu made some substitutions, pulling off Mahachi who was by his standards off key, for Valentine Ndaba with Gabriel Nyoni coming off for Ozias Zibande while Nox Mtizwa replaced Ngodzo.
Calisto Pasuwa also made some substitutions bringing on Tawanda Muparati for the injured Chafa with Tichaona Mabvura also coming in for Murape Murape and Simba Sithole replacing Anesu Gondo.
But the substitutions appeared to work well for Highlanders as they gained control towards the end but their attackers could not put away the few chances they created.
Dynamos defended resolutely towards the end with their fans revelling in Highlander’s moment of anguish.
Defeat was painful ... Highlanders coach Kelvin Kaindu saw unbeaten league run end
“It’s painful. It’s not what we expected. It’s painful. We wanted to keep on marching but we lacked character and conceded that goal,” he said.
His opposite number Pasuwa was happy to collect maximum points.
With the victory Dynamos moved to third place with 22 points from 12 matches while Highlanders dropped to fourth place with 21 points from the same number of matches.
RESULTS
Sunday: Chiredzi 0-2 Caps United, Dynamos 1-0 Highlanders,Hwange 0-1 Chicken Inn, How Mine 0-0 FC Platinum, Shabanie Mine 1-1 ZPC Kariba
Saturday: Bantu Rovers 3-1 Buffaloes, Black Rhinos 0-0 Triangle