Dynamos beat Shabanie to narrow points gap

Augustine Hwata

Dynamos …………………………………………………..(0) 2

Shabanie ………………………………………………………0

Cuthbert Malajila struck a beauty, which could be a big contender for the Goal of the Season award, as Dynamos won a crucial game at Rufaro yesterday to move within just five points of the Castle Lager Premiership leaders.

The Harare giants were the biggest winners yesterday after leaders Motor Action and FC Platinum dropped points in a draw in Zvishavane and Bosso also dropped points in a draw at Barbourfields. Dynamos leapfrogged Highlanders into third place and the Glamour Boys and their fans should now be fancying their chances of staging a remarkable comeback to win the league title.

The seasoned Malajila scored his second goal, in as many games following his return to Dynamos, with a powerful shot that was hit with both venom and accuracy and nestled into the top right hand corner. Denver Mukamba, back at a level close to the heights he scaled at the beginning of the season, put Dynamos ahead in the fifth minute and Malajila doubled the lead two minutes later.

It was also Callisto Pasuwa’s second win, since he took over from Lloyd Mutasa last week and, more importantly, the win pushed Dynamos to within five points of leaders Motor Action and FC Platinum who are on 41 points. The foursome of Motor Action, FC Platinum, Highlanders and Chicken Inn did Dynamos a big favour by drawing their matches yesterday

There was a 30-minute delay to the kick-off at Rufaro as the Dynamos administrators made a request to referee Norman Matemera to allow more fans, who were struggling to gain entrance, into the stadium.

A moment of silence in honour of national hero, General Solomon Mujuru, was observed before kick off and the Dynamos players wore black armbands. Dynamos secretary Nyika Chifamba said they were aware of the repercussions the delay caused but they were also trying to avert a potential stampede from fans, who were still trapped outside the ground, by the time of the scheduled kick-off.

Fans who arrived in time were restless when the game failed to start and showed their disapproval of the delay with boos and whistling. An unusually big crowd was at Rufaro yesterday as Dynamos’ winning formula and the revival of their championship race draws more of their fans to their matches.

However, the supporters were quickly pacified as Dynamos were asking the Shabanie Mine defence some questions as early the second minute when the outstanding Roderick Mutuma came on a strong run on the left and then sent a cross into box that Tawanda Muparati failed to connect. Shabanie also tried to break the deadlock when Caleb Masocha turned to shoot at Washington Arubi in the 4th minute but the Dynamos goalkeeper was well on-guard.

Dynamos then took the lead when Mukamba finished off a fine move, involving Muparati and Mutuma, to beat Roy Mazingi in goals for the visitors. Mutuma, who should have left Rufaro with at least a goal, could have taken a crack at target but instead left for a better positioned Mukamba to hit with precision.

Hardly had the celebrations ended when Malajila scored his second goal in as many matches. Malajila had also scored in last week’s 4-1 win over Shooting Stars.

Veteran midfielder Murape Murape engineered the move when he won a duel and then spread a pass for Mutuma who quickly fed Muparati near the edge of the box. The ball then fell to Malajila who coolly controlled before releasing a powerful shot with his right foot to beat Mazingi as Dynamos turned on the power in the early stages of the game.

It was such a powerful shot that many who were at Rufaro will be lying if they claim that they saw its movement from the striker’s foot right until it settled in the nets. It was just a flash, control, open fire and boom. Noone can save that and poor Mazingi was no different.

After Malajila’s strike, Dynamos fans expected an avalanche of goals to come but it was not to be as the Harare giants appeared to take their foot off the pedal and allowed a battling Shabanie Mine to claw back into the game.

Shabanie impressed with their neat passing game and gave as much as they got and credit should go to coach Luke Masomere for bringing this attractive game to the miners. Midfielder Johane Chisunga tried to reduce the arrears in the 14th minute when he pulled the trigger on Arubi and the goalkeeper failed to handle the ball properly before getting a second bite of the cherry.

Mutuma, who was a livewire yesterday and was clearly the best player on view, somehow completely missed the connection with his head, with an empty goal in front of him, after a fine cross that had been whipped in by Muparati from the left in the 18th minute.

The visitors’ William Ngonya then tried to beat Arubi with a long range effort in the 29th minute before Mutuma missed a golden chance on the half hour mark. The ginger-haired striker did well to shake off his marker and then turned to face Mazingi, who blocked the ball into the path of Malajila.

Mukamba also made an impression with some deft touches, as he appeared confident on the ball and showed a lot of adventure, although at times he tended to hold onto the ball for too long. But he provided entertainment galore for the fans, just what they wanted, and there were times when his trickery made fools out of the Shabanie defenders.

Shabanie continued with their passing game after the breather but were awful with the finishing on the sporadic attacks. Infact, it was Dynamos who had the clearer chances at goal as Mukamba nearly converted from corner kicks while Mazingi also did well to thwart some of the raids. Shabanie’s best chance in the second half fell to Tawanda Mareya who forced Arubi to make a super save in the 79th minute.

After the match, Dynamos assistant coach Tonderai Ndiraya said they were happy with the maximum points collected and hoped to build the momentum. “What is important is the three points,” said Ndiraya.

“We got the three points because the guys played well and got two early goals but then the tempo of the game went down after the goals. Shabanie are a good team and they also played well for the better part of the game,” said Ndiraya.

Ndiraya said Dynamos were not worried by the glut of missed chances. “We are not at all worried by missing chances because we had managed to get two goals. The guys created some scoring chances and we defended well. So we need to know that we need to work on the finishing in the next game,” said Ndiraya

After having looked down and out of this championship race following a loss to Blue Ribbon and a draw against Black Mambas, you get a feeling Dynamos are firmly back in this one with matches against Motor Action and FC Platinum to come. Even the players’ body language says it all and, crucially, their fans are also beginning to believe that they can do it.

Welcome back Glamour Boys.

Teams

Dynamos

W. Arubi, T. Magorimbo, M. Makopa, M. Malajila (M. Vengesayi 78th min), M. Magariro, M. Murape (A. Gutu 58th min), A. Mbara, R. Mutuma (T. Mamvura 89th min), T. Muparati, G. Zhokinyi, D. Mukamba

Shabanie

R. Mazingi, S. Shoko, C. Masocha, R. Nenzou (E. Bakacheza 89th min), B. Dimanji, J. Chisunga, K. Kwashi, M. Majega (T. Mareya 78th min), R. Mware, W. Ngonya, T. Mombeshora