BULAWAYO - Highlanders returned to the summit of the Castle Premiership log in style with an emphatic 4-0 victory over CAPS United here yesterday.
The Bulawayo giants scored twice in each half through Rahman Kutsanzira, Ozias Zibande, Kuda Mahachi and Cleopas Dube to recapture the top spot with 12 points to their credit.
Highlanders coach Mark Mathe was left waxing lyrical after watching his charges deliver a top drawer performance.
"We were clinical in front of goal today and that is exactly what I had requested from the lads before the match,” Mathe, standing-in for head coach Kelvin Kaindu, said.
"The ability to convert our chances made all the difference because in our previous matches we would score just one goal and then go to sleep and end up conceding," Mathe said.
United got off the blocks faster than Highlanders with their Malawian imports Gerald Phiri and Ishmael Thindwa threatening right from kick off but Bosso managed to weather the storm.
Kutsanzira then found the opener in ping pong style when he finished off an aerial attack that was initiated by his captain Innocent Mapuranga.
The Bosso skipper's long clearance found Kutsanzira on the right flank and the midfielder headed towards Charles Sibanda who in turn headed the ball to Zibande and the young striker sent through a high ball for Kutsanzira to head past CAPS keeper Tafadzwa Dube.
Makepekepe failed to regroup after suffering the early setback despite their striker Dominic Chungwa being a constant threat to the Highlanders defence.
The striker tried his level best to bring parity to the encounter but found no support from his teammates who seemed overawed by the occasion.
Things got worse for the visitors when Zibande added a second for Highlanders on 36 minutes when he headed home a good cross from Mahachi following a flowing build up by the hosts.
And ten minutes after the break it was Mahachi's turn to get his name on the scoresheet when the nimble footed linkman when he received a long cross from Kutsanzira and cut inside before letting rip at goal.
Super substitute Cleopas Dube then hit the final nail on the CAPS United coffin when he scored with his second touch on 81 minutes.
Dube had replaced Zibande a minute earlier.
Makepekepe head coach Taurai Mangwiro admitted defeat during his post match interview.
"Today was one of those days when everything just did not go right for us and on the other hand everything that Highlanders turned to gold,” Mangwiro said.
"It happens in football and we just have to regroup and focus on our next encounter," Mangwiro said.
Highlanders: Ariel Sibanda, Simon Munawa, Bruce Kangwa, Innocent Mapuranga, Dumisani Ndlovu, Eric Mudzingwa, Welcome Ndiweni, Rahman Kutsanzira, Ozias Zibande, Charles Sibanda, Kuda Mahachi
CAPS: Tafadzwa Dube, Tapiwa Khumbuyani, Blessing Zabula, Stephen Makatuka, Ronald Pfumbidzayi, Tendai Samanja, Dominic Mukandi, Gerald Phiri, Tinashe Mukanhairi, Ishmael Thindwa, Dominic Chungwa.