Highlanders 0-2 FC Platinum
BULAWAYO – Crowd trouble marred FC Platinum’s impressive win over Highlanders in the season-opening Castle Challenge Cup at Barbourfields on Saturday.
Silas Songani scored a memorable double in his first competitive match since returning from a five-year spell in Denmark.
Highlanders shot stopper Ariel Sibanda was partly to blame for the first, which came after 20 minutes. The Premier League champions won a free kick on the edge of the box to the right of Sibanda’s goal. The goalkeeper appeared to take a step to the right just as Songani took his kick, leaving the striker a larger target to aim at from an angle.
The Zvishavane side had the match won on 36 minutes after Perfect Chikwende’s mazy run down the left before cutting inside and finding Songani who looped an angled finish over the static Highlanders defence.
A lengthy stoppage came towards the end when Highlanders fans invaded the pitch while throwing objects at the police, who exercised commendable restraint.
The flashpoint came after one fan jumped onto the playing surface at the Soweto end, and was forced back by police.
When calm was finally restored, referee Arnold Ncube blew the whistle to end the match.
FC Platinum picked up a $400,000 winning prize, while Highlanders settled for $250,000.
The season-opening match featured the league winners and cup winners after Highlanders clinched the Chibuku Super Cup.
Teams:
Highlanders: A Sibanda, C Siamalonga, B Banda, M Katsvairo (Lunga 73 mins), N Masuku, A Mbeba, M Dube (Makanda 58 mins), P Muduhwa, M Ndlovu, P Dube, D Mhindirira
FC Platinum: P Mhari, G Mbweti, G Bello, L Mhlanga, T Chikore, K Madzongwe, R Kawondera, S Songani (Chinyerere 90+4 mins), P Chikwende, R Kutsanzira (Khumalo 63 mins), S Ngala (Maguri 77 mins)
