Ruthless Dynamos power past Monoz

By Augustine Hwata

Monomotapa……………………………………………..…0

Dynamos ………………………………………………(3) 3

HARARE – In-form striker Washington Pakamisa struck his second brace in as many league matches when Harare giants Dynamos registered an emphatic victory over Monomotapa in a Castle Lager Premiership soccer match at Rufaro on Sunday.

Dynamos had been seemingly pushed into a corner after registering six draws from seven matches but the league champions were ruthless in the first half when they dispatched Monoz with three well-taken goals by two-goal hero Pakamisa and Tawanda Muparati.

Following yesterday’s result, Dynamos have moved into fifth position on the log and are now seriously stalking joint log leaders Highlanders and FC Platinum.

Vice-captain Muparati scored his first league goal of the season when he finished off a good move that saw Pakamisa initiating the raid as he sliced a pass to Thomas Magorimbo, who in-turn fed Boban Ziruntusa, who was making a run at the centre.

The Ugandan international controlled the ball when he charged forward before firing a low shot that Monoz goalkeeper Tapiwa Zvaita punched back into play and Muparati closed in from the left to drill the ball home in the sixth minute.

The early goal surely calmed the nerves of the Glamour Boys, who had earlier on tried to beat Zvaita through long range efforts from leftback Ocean Mushure and Devon Chafa.

Defender Morris Kadzola, who was making his Premiership debut for Dynamos after a protracted wrangle over his clearance from Motor Action, proved to be a wise buy when he made a strong run on the right before delivering an intelligent pass for Pakamisa who had charged towards the box.

Pakamisa shook off defender Jimmy Tigere to connect the ball and hit the roof of the net for DeMbare’s second goal with a classy finish in the 10th minute.

Last week, Pakamisa scored all the two goals as DeMbare shared the spoils with FC Platinum and yesterday Murape Murape could have stretched the lead when he whipped in a fine cross that whistled past the goalmouth.

Dynamos kept on probing the suspect Monoz defence when Chafa, who was having a grip on the game as a defensive linkman, set up Muparati who was unmarked on the left.

Muparati surged forward and then curved open the Monomotapa defence with a good pass that found Ziruntusa but the Dynamos midfielder miscued the ball and allowed Monoz to recover.

Ronald Chitiyo, who was sometimes forced to draw back and search for the ball, nearly reduced the arrears for Monoz when he created a pocket of space in the box but his effort from an acute angle went wide with Dynamos goalminder George Chigova failing to close in.

The Monomotapa defence was caught on holiday when Pakamisa latched on to a long ball pumped from a goalkick by Chigova to beat Zvaita on the half hour mark.

In the 34th minute, the former CAPS United striker could have completed a hat-trick when he exchanged passes with Magorimbo but found Zvaita alert while Monoz skipper Kuda Musharu should have punished the Dynamos defence when he was allowed to take a free header inside the box moments later.

Dynamos thought they had scored another goal in the 38th minute when Ziruntusa got to the end of a move by the lively Pakamisa but the assistant referee had his flag up for off-side .

Monomotapa coach Biggie Zuze made changes to his leaky defence at the break and his (Zuze) side began to enjoy the better of the exchanges in the second half.

Warriors midfielder Chitiyo was unlucky to play for a losing team as he kept the Dynamos rearguard busy especially when he made forays along with Clive Boroma.

In one of the lasting impressions on the day, Chitiyo mesmerised Patson Jaure, who ended up holding the midfielder to stop him from going forward in the 68th minute.

Dynamos coach Calisto Pasuwa pulled out Murape Murape, who had a poor game, as he gave rookie Abel Gwatidzo and Clive Kawinga their first runs in the league.

Gwatidzo made a big impression as he could have scored on his debut when he made a forceful run but his effort lacked precision while Kawinga struggled with his fitness but managed to execute a few moves.

At the end of the match, Dynamos coach Pasuwa, was clearly relieved by the win and hoped his troops will retain the form in their next match against Hwange, in the build-up to the derby against CAPS United.

“It’s a morale-booster for us after a string of draws in the previous matches. We are saying to the guys that let’s go out there and start collecting maximum points,” said Pasuwa.

Pasuwa said he was also impressed by his new players.

“These are the players who are registered so we should be using them as we challenge for the championship. We had so many injuries in the team so we had to change and bring in the other guys who had not been playing.

“Gwatidzo is one of those youngsters who plays very well and today was his first game and it was a plus sign for him,” said Pasuwa, who also praised Pakamisa for hitting a purple patch. His opposite number Zuze, who was dressed in Mushure’s old jersey, said the scoreline did not reflect what happened on the field.

“The final scoreline does not reflect what transpired in the match. For me it was tale of two halves — they dominated in the first half and we controlled the second. But as long as you do not take your chances, you are bound to lose the game but I am happy that we managed to create chances,” said Zuze. The Herald 

Teams:

Monomotapa: T. Zvaita, J. Tigere, L. Sithole, O. Mwerahari, N. Melson, C. Rukanhi, C. Boroma (I. Wadi 69th minute), R. Chamalimba, R. Chitiyo, B. Zvikomborero(P. Tonho 46th minute), K. Musharu, I. Lawe, (M. Mungombe 87th minute).

Dynamos: G. Chigova,T. Magorimbo, M. Kadzola, O. Mushure, P. Jaure, G. Bello, C. Chafa, M. Murape (A. Gwatidzo 79th minute), T. Muparati, B. Ziruntusa, W. Pakamisa (C. Kawinga 79th minute).