HARARE - Any hope of redemption from an eight-year wait to beat Dynamos came to naught here yesterday as Highlanders fell to a morale-dampening 4-1 defeat that saw the Harare giants lift the TM Pick n Pay Challenge Cup.
DeMbare walked away $60 000 richer with a compelling victory over their arch rivals.
A first half brace from Simba Sithole had sent Highlanders to the half time break with a mountain to climb.
Rain clouds continued to gather for Bosso after Rodrick Mutama’s 54th minute strike.
Bosso would register a consolation goal through Felix Chindungwe but it was de javu all over again after Washington Pakamisa punished the visitors for pouring too many men in attack to wrap up a convincing win.
Dynamos coach Calisto Pasuwa felt the result was a reward of the technical team’s patience.
“Like I have been preaching all that was needed was patience on these players. You can even see from the way they are scoring goals now,” Pasuwa said.
“It’s because of the patience of the technical side because we could have offloaded these guys but we kept faith in them especially Simba (Sihtole), he was playing very well but he wasn’t scoring but today he came good.”
Pasuwa however, refused to see their victory of title chasing Highlanders as an omen of things to come in the title race for their fourth consecutive title.
“I don’t think so. We have to play every game as it comes and start picking up points from these small teams.”
His opposite number Kevin Kaindu admitted losing against Dynamos again was a bitter pill to swallow.
“We came with a lot of motivation that today we are going to do it. We believed we were going to do it,” said the Zambian.
“But when we conceded that second goal we lost all concentration, it just brought misery upon us and even when we scored we still tried to get another one but we conceded.
“We never got back. That’s how difficult the game was. We changed our game plan and started playing with the offside trap which we don’t usually do and I think we lost concentration.
“As you saw in the first half we created a lot of a chances where I feel we could have scored. I don’t think we came with a defensive mindset.”
The Highlanders gaffer said: “I think it is a game that brings a lot of criticism. What I have observed is we tend to play an average game without anybody coming to the party. We try to avoid mistakes instead of playing the game plan. It’s a physiological thing we need to work on.”
Highlanders began the match with all the early signs of intent as Joel Ngodzo, Charles Sibanda and Njabulo Dube asserting their dominance in attack.
Dube even got the ball in the back of the net in after 18 minutes but that would be a false alarm as it ruled out for offside.
However, just like in seasons gone by it would be Dynamos who would surge ahead and stay ahead through Sithole’s strike three minutes later.
The move was ignited by man-of-the-match Tafadzwa Rusike down the left flank whose cross was brought back into play by Ronald Chitiyo before Sithole finished off from close range.
Nine minutes later, Sithole registered his brace with a half volley after a long throw by full back Blessing Moyo was headed into the danger area by Bosso skipper Innocent Mapuranga.
After the break, Mutuma’s goal signaled the end of any hopes Bosso had for a comeback.
Highlanders scored their consolation eight minutes from time through Chidungwe, who had an outstanding game at holding midfield but Pakamisa completed the rout four minutes from time.