Highlanders forward Washington Navaya headed home a stoppage-time winner to ignite boisterous scenes of jubilation by home fans and agitation by Dynamos followers in a packed Barbourfields Stadium with both sets of fans invading the pitch to express their different emotions.
That was not the only piece of drama that marred the local game’s most followed fixture.
The tempestuous Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match first encountered a 15-minute stoppage deep into the second half after Dynamos’ Bill Antonio went too hard for a challenge against Andrew Tandi in the Highlanders box.
He was later red-carded for the infringement.
But while Highlanders medics took time to attend to Tandi who was later taken to hospital for the injury, an agitated section of home fans housed on the Soweto stand attempted to pull down the fence to confront the offending Dynamos forward but were restrained by anti-riot police who were helped by the Bulawayo giants’ marshals.
 |
| Fan Mayhem Causes Bosso-Dembare Match Abandonment! |
Highlanders were finally rewarded for their industry two minutes into added time when second half substitute Navaya rose to head home under challenge from Dynamos goalkeeper Taimon Mvula to put the score at 1-0.
The goal torched unorthodox scenes of celebration by a section of home fans who invaded the pitch in jubilation while on the Mpilo end of the pitch housing predominantly Dynamos supporters, fans took the drama a notch higher when they also invaded the pitch and fought to uproot the goal post.
The fans were angered by what they believed to be an unfair challenge on the visitors’ goalie.
Anti-riot police watched the chaos as it unfolded in front of them.
With the ugly scenes taking centre stage, the match could not proceed, giving yet another homework for football administrators to decide upon.
The match started at a pulsating pace with Highlanders dominating the exchanges.
Taking advantage of its numerical advantage, the home side pressed even harder as the game wore on, leading to a Navaya finish.
