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Highlanders go top; Dynamos bring down Yadah

KweséESPN

Midfielder Simon Munawa's second-half strike earned Highlanders a 1-0 win over Ngezi Platinum as the Bulawayo giants eased to the top of the Zimbabwe Premier League.

It was a third consecutive win for Bosso, who have now rebounded from the shock 1-0 loss to Shabanie to underline their status as one of the title favourites.

Ngezi had the upper hand in the opening half, but spurned several decent chances to let the home side off the hook.

Highlanders started to get into their groove after the break, and the pressure was made to count as the talismanic Munawa headed home the decisive winner 15 minutes from time.

In Harare, Dynamos set aside their midweek woes to hand surprise package Yadah a first defeat of the campaign courtesy of Ocean Mushure's 34th minute freekick.

The league's most successful team had gone into the encounter on the back of a chastening 1-0 loss at home to How Mine on Thursday, and another setback would have been disastrous.

Lloyd Mutasa's men showed more urgency, and created the better opportunities in the first-half, with Yadah goalkeeper Tafadzwa Dube doing well to keep out a firm header from striker Tawanda Macheka early on.

The pressure finally paid off as Mushure converted from a freekick, and, although Yadah rallied to put pressure on the Harare giants in final 30 minutes, an equaliser just would not come.

There was some last minute drama though, with skipper Brian Mapfumo denying Yadah an equaliser after inadvertently blocking Moses Demera's goal-bound header.

At the Colliery, Chicken Inn afforded themselves some breathing space following a hard-fought 1-0 win over Hwange.

The Game Corks forwards had taken turns to miss some presentable chances early in the first half. before former TP Mazembe midfielder Chris Samakwere calmed the nerves with a fierce low drive into the bottom corner moments before the break.

Nelson Maziwisa was on target in Zvishavane as Shabanie Mine registered their second win of the campaign after downing Tsholotsho 1-0 at Maglas Stadium.

The 2012 Golden boot winner jumped highest to head home a Lloyd Nyamandwe corner kick in the 43rd minute as the top-flight returnees ended a three match winless streak.

Tinashe Mapumha and Bruno Mtigo had earlier come close for the Chinda Boys.

Tsholostho goalkeeper Chang Marion was to deny Maziwisa a brace after diving brilliantly to parry the striker's firm header back into play.