Hwange stun champions Dynamos

From Tobias Mandoreba in Hwange

Hwange… (2) 4

Dynamos… (0)2

CHAMPIONS Dynamos’ woeful record on the road continued yesterday when the Harare giants fell to their heaviest Castle Lager Premiership defeat of the season following a thumping defeat by Hwange at the Colliery yesterday. 

Dynamos might be gunning for a third successive league title but Callisto Pasuwa’s men have been awful on the road where their three defeats have come from. In contrast, DeMbare have been impregnable at Rufaro where Pasuwa is unbeaten in 31 games.

Yesterday, Dynamos, who are facing stiff competition for the title from bitter rivals Highlanders, Harare City and CAPS United, arrived at the Colliery hoping to put behind them their poor away form.

But a combination of renewed fighting spirit, sheer determination and amazing attacking prowess formed the core of Hwange’s dazzling performance as the fired up coalminers silenced the blue and white masses in a pulsating game.

Hwange have largely struggled this year and are in their own battle for survival.

Their huge win over a Dynamos side that rarely conceded more than two goals helped the coalminers send a bold statement that they are prepared to move mountains in their quest to continue dancing with the elite in Zimbabwe’s domestic football in 2014.

Hwange have been wobbling towards the finishing line with 22 points from 21 games going into yesterday’s match, raising fears of a repeat of the 2007 nightmare when they were demoted into the unfashionable world of Division One football.

But all that changed in a 90 minute spell of dramatic football which left the Harare giants’ credentials to bag a third title on the trot under immense spotlight.

Goals by Gilbert Zulu, who struck a brace, defender Gerald Ndlovu and Nkosana Siwela ensured that Hwange remained the highest scoring team against Dynamos, who got their goals through double scorer Ocean Mushure.

Even when DeMbare thumped Hwange 4-2 in controversial circumstances at Rufaro last year, they needed the season as the only side that had managed to get two goals past the Harare giants’ defence.

It is not every day that a team can pump four goals past Dynamos, even their chairman Kenny Mubaiwa, who gave the post match interview in place of Pasuwa, who was locked in the dressing with his charges, admitted the coalminers were simply unstoppable yesterday.

“We did not play badly but I should admit that Hwange, as a team who are fighting relegation, played very well and we simply had no answer though we gave everything to get something from the match.

“It’s a wake-up call for us as we need to go a gear up if we are to defend the title. We have some consolation in the fact that the second placed team Harare City drew so we are still tops.” said Mubaiwa.

Hwange’s goalkeeper’s coach Chenjerayi Dube, as has become tradition, spoke on behalf his boss Nation Dube and declared that better times are in store for the coalminers.

“It was a wonderful day in office for everyone. As I said last Sunday when we beat FC Platinum, we now mean business and we are playing as a unit.

“We needed the three points badly and I can say we are now competing like a well oiled unit.” Chenjerayi said.

For Dynamos, who left the stadium with their tails in between their legs after the drubbing, the writing was on the wall as early as the second minute when Eric Chipeta’s scorching free-kick was spilled by goalkeeper George Chigova who had to thank defender Thomas Magorimbo for scooping the ball to safety. Dynamos gave an immediate response in the fifth minute when Tichaona Mabvura laid on a good pass for the overlapping Oscar Machapa, whose first time effort hit the side netting as the match livened up.

An 18th minute dipping free-kick by Hwange rightback Chipeta, which was acrobatically tipped over the bar by Chigova was one of the early signs that the coal embers were ready to engulf the visitors under the simmering Hwange heat.

The visitors continued to live dangerously and it was no surprise when big defender Victor Kamhuka tripped double scorer Zulu inside the box in the 32nd minute, as he prepared to pull the trigger and referee Hardley Ndazi did not hesitate to point to the spot.

Hwange’s penalty specialist Ndlovu did not disappoint on the big stage as he sent Chigova the wrong way with a fine effort.

Four minutes later DeMbare’s vocal fans were left speechless when Hwange doubled their advantage through a ferocious left footed volley from Siwela which left Chigova motionless while it found its mark.

This was after a lovely combination on the left between Hwange’s man of the match Isaac Masame and Oscar Lungu.

Dynamos then came charging like a wounded buffalo and reduced the arrears just two minutes after the break when left back Mushure’s curling free-kick from the edge of box gave young Hwange goalkeeper Takabva Mawaya no chance.

Three minutes later DeMbare were deflated when Zulu restored Hwange’s double advantage with a fine header into the back of the net after a lovely corner from Chipeta.

The Glamour Boys simply refused to give up and again pulled another goal back in the 58th minute when Mushure completed his double from yet another free-kick from almost a similar position.

This time, his free- kick took a deflection to deceive Mawaya who went the wrong way to ignite the Dynamos fans back to life. Dynamos’ two substitutes Clive Kawinga and Patrick Khumbula injected some life into the Harare giants as the champions started pressing forward in search of an equaliser.

Just as they sought at least a goal to restore parity, DeMbare’s spirits were defeated when veteran striker Zulu sent a glancing header past Chigova in the 77th minute.

Try as they did to throw everyone forward, Dynamos could not pull the game out of the fire and the coalminers defended for dear life to record the most famous win of this season.

The win will give the coalminers some hope as they travel to meet Triangle at Gibbo on Sunday.

Teams:

Hwange: T Mawaya; E Chipeta; M Mungadze; D Boriwondo; G Ndlovu; F Vimisai; O Lungu (E Rusike 66th min); I Masame; N Siwela; G Zulu

Dynamos: G Chigova; T Magorimbo; O Mushure; G Bello; V Kamhuka; S Linyama; B Zarintusa (C Kawinga 46th min); T Muparati; W Pakamisa; T Mabvura (P Khumbula 46th min); O Machapa(82nd min). The Herald