CAPS United delivered a ruthless statement of intent in the Munhumutapa Challenge Cup Round of 32, dismantling Scottland Juniors 6-0 at Baobab Stadium to highlight a dramatic weekend of knockout football.
The Green Machine showed zero mercy to their lower-tier opposition, putting on a clinic in clinical finishing to march emphatically into the next round. Their devastating attacking display stood in stark contrast to the fortunes of Bulawayo giants Highlanders, who fell victim to the biggest shock of the tournament so far on Sunday.
Playing at Colliery Stadium, lower-tier side Black Rock held their nerve to eliminate Bosso 5-3 in a tense penalty shootout after the match ended goalless in regulation time. The lower-division side converted every single spot-kick, completing a nightmare weekend at the venue for Premiership heavyweights following Dynamos' 1-0 defeat to Hwange 24 hours earlier.
Highlanders Head Coach and Warriors legend Benjani Mwaruwari admitted his team was comprehensively outplayed.
“We lost the match on penalties, but I give credit to them. You know, we did not play with a lot of energy. When you play teams like this, you need to match them everywhere,” Mwaruwari said. “They looked dangerous from the start, and if you do not match them, I think the result doesn’t lie. We were second to them in everything. We give credit to them.”
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For Black Rock, the triumph was no accident. Head Coach Tinashe Doriro revealed that three weeks of intensive preparation, specifically targeting penalties, made the difference.
“We never missed any penalty. It’s something that we have been practising,” Doriro said. “After we knew about this fixture, we had three weeks of preparation. Even though we were playing league matches, the most important match that we were preparing for was against Highlanders. The preparation worked very well, and we are victors of this game.”
The unexpected exit left Bosso fans frustrated by their side's wastefulness in front of goal. One supporter noted that creating chances meant little without finishing them, while another described the loss as a painful lesson that demands a strong response in upcoming fixtures. Conversely, Black Rock fans celebrated a monumental achievement, praising their squad's discipline, courage, and composure under pressure.
The drama extended across the country in a action-packed weekend. Premiership side Chicken Inn joined Highlanders on the scrapheap after losing 5-4 on penalties to Ngezi Platinum following a stalemate at Luveve Stadium. FC Platinum secured safe passage with a disciplined 1-0 victory over Marere at Chahwanda Stadium, while Triangle United cruised past ZPC Kariba with a 3-0 win at Nyamhunga Stadium.
In other fixtures, FC Hunters earned a 3-1 victory over Norton Big Boys at Ngoni Stadium. Spot-kicks proved decisive elsewhere, as Blanket Mine edged TelOne 4-3 following a 1-1 draw, and Manica Diamonds outlasted Simba Bhora 6-5 on penalties after matching them to a 1-1 deadlock.
The Heroes Day Monday schedule features FC Oden meeting Scottland at Baobab Stadium, MWOS U-19 clashing with Chatidhege at Ngoni Stadium, and Aqua Stars taking on Chili FC at Luveve Stadium
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