Dynamos beat Caps United in lively derby

Resurgent striker Evans Gwekwerere continued with his purple patch for Dynamos when he scored his third goal in as many games and set the Glamour Boys on the way to victory over their old enemies CAPS United in a lively Premiership derby at Rufaro yesterday. Gwekwerere has in the last three outings been handed the task of leading the Dynamos attack as Cuthbert Malajila remains on the sidelines owing to a contractual dispute between Chapu-ngu and DeMbare.

CAPS United………………………………………………….(1) 1 Dynamos…………………………………………………….. (2) 2

And the former Jomo Cosmos and Moroka Swallows striker has responded with a goal in each game. But there is no doubting Gwekwerere will, for a long time, relish yesterday’s goal, which fired Dynamos into the lead after just 13 minutes before a packed Rufaro. Dylan Chivandire added Dynamos’ second in the 18th minute while Nyasha Mushekwi’s header just beat the half-time whistle to keep CAPS United in contention, but Makepekepe could not find another goal to at least avoid defeat.

Yesterday’s victory was Dynamos’ first over CAPS United in the derby since 2007 when Edward Sadomba’s solitary goal gave them the win. Derby clashes in Zimbabwe do not come any bigger than the CAPS United against Dynamos showdown with a lot of tension and sub-plots characterising such encounters. In yesterday’s game, CAPS United coach Lloyd Chitembwe let his temper get the better of him and was expelled from the touchline for constantly shouting at fourth official Pamela Chiwa-ya who had been trying to restrain him from straying outside his technical area.

Before the game, Chitembwe had clashed with Chiwaya as she directed the teams to return to the dressing rooms after their allotted warm-up period. But when he lost his cool soon after Dynamos’ second goal and abused Chiwaya again, referee Gift Kajiva, who had a firm hand on the proceedings, ejected him from the CAPS United bench. However, there was no denying Gwekwerere yet another moment to endear himself with the DeMbare fans when he latched onto a low cross from Benjamin Marere on the right and sliced the ball past Edmore Sibanda.

Sibanda was then guilty of a blunder that helped Dynamos secure their goal just five minutes later and saw CAPS United crumble before Mushekwi tried to rally them back into the game. Yet CAPS United were the first to settle down with Mushekwi getting a pocket of space inside the box, but finding Tafadzwa Maingire unyielding. Marvel Samaneka made a good attempt when he slid the ball towards Washington Arubi who made a save in the ninth minute.

Dynamos had the best clear cut chances at goal while CAPS fought brilliantly in the second period, but never managed the goal that could have given them a point. With more precision, Dynamos could have harvested half a dozen goals but their forwards were wasteful. Gwekwerere — who was booed by fans when he put up a near lifeless performance against FC Lupopo in the Champions League game in March — has revitalised himself into almost the same player who held the league spellbound three seasons ago.

After being a super-flop against Lupopo, Gwekwerere was again thrown into the fray and he scored in the 4-1 win against Gaborone United in a continental tie. He then sank the priceless goal in the 1-0 win over Highlanders during the mid-week and yesterday put Dynamos ahead in the 13th minute. It seems the confidence is crawling back into the player who was highly rated before he somehow lost his rhythm.

In scoring his goal, Gwekwerere got to the end of a pass from Benjamin Marere on the right to hit a shot past a badly exposed Sibanda while the CAPS United defence was caught ball watching as they failed to clear their lines when Mare-re drilled into the box. Then Dynamos increased the lead in the 18th minute when Chivandire capitalised on a howler by Sibanda.

DeMbare pumped a long ball from the back into the CAPS United box and Sibanda had half a mind to meet the attempt as Chivandire closed in. The two players got to the edge of the box for the same ball as CAPS defender Gilbert Mapemba was also monitoring the situation closely. Chivandire made contact with the ball which he headed over the drawn out Sibanda. He was, however, given a yellow card for his unorthodox celebration.

Despite being two goals down, CAPS continued to fight and were rewarded for their probing when Mushekwi scored with a trademark header past a static Washington Arubi. Sibanda, who had presented Dynamos with a goal from Chivandire, somewhat redeemed himself in the 34th minute when, with the slightest of touches, he diverted Marere’s thunderous drive just over the bar. It was a brilliant effort by Marere who was making a return to the game after missing the mid-week tie against Highlanders because of an injury. But it was an equally important save by Sibanda.

Two minutes later, Sibanda again made a commitment to rush off his line to block Marere just outside the box. Dynamos had their weak appeal for penalty turned down when Nyasha Makumbi’s hand made contact with the ball inside the box as he tried to clear a Marere attack. Wonder Sithole missed a good chance in the 25th minute when he drove his shot just wide while Sibanda tipped another hard Marere effort over the bar.

Gwekwerere provided Chivandire with a low ball, but the former Sundowns man blasted wide in the 43rd minute before Tafadzwa Rusike — who had a subdued game by his standards — became visible. The diminutive midfielder crossed from the left and Mushekwi jumped high to nod home. It was the last action of the first half and a lot more from CAPS was expected in the second half. But with Thabani Kamusoko, playing his best football since moving to Dynamos and Ashley Rambanapasi putting on another gritty show, Elvis Chiweshe’s charges were having the edge in the middle and kept the supply line open for their strikers.

Lionel Mtizwa fought hard while Oscar Machapa was full of running, but made awkward final deliveries. Chivandire wasted quite a handful of chances and was pulled out while Maingire hardly put a foot wrong as he kept Leonard Tsipa at bay. After the game, CAPS’ technical manager Wilson Mutekede was naturally disappointed.

“In football we have to lose sometimes. It has happened today,” he said. On the expulsion of Chitembwe, Mutekede believed it demoralised them. “The expulsion of the head coach affected the whole team psychologically. And some of the decisions by the match officials left a lot to be desired,” he said. But Dynamos coach Elvis Chiweshe was happy with the win.

“It had been a long time since we have beaten CAPS. I remember I was coach at Dynamos in 2003 but I lost the game. Today was a good day for me. I am overwhelmed by the win,” he said.

Chiweshe said he did not read much into Chitembwe’s expulsion. “The game plan had already been made and I do not see how Chitembwe’s ejection contributed to their defeat. He was not playing and even so they had made their game plan before the game,” said Chiweshe.

Team Lineups

CAPS United: E. Sibanda, O. Machapa, L. Mtizwa, G. Mapemba, N. Mushekwi, B. Mazorodze, M. Samaneka, T. Rusike, D. Walaza, (R. Sengu 8th minute) (A. Kwame 71st minute), E. Chapfungamoyo (L. Tsipa 22nd min) N. Makumbi,

Dynamos: W. Arubi, P. Sithole, K. Banda, G. Magariro, T. Maingire, A. Rambanapasi, D. Chivandire (M. Makopa 68th minute), G. Zhokinyi, E. Gwekwerere (F. Mandiwanzira 79th minute), B. Marere, W. Sithole (A. Mbara 58th minute).

Other results at a glance

Saturday

Eagles 1, Shabanie Mine 1

Monomotapa 0, Kiglon 0

Bantu Rovers 1, Motor Action 2

Sunday

CAPS United 1, Dynamos 2

Highlanders 1, Gunners 0

FC Victoria 1, Shooting Stars 2

Hwange 2, Douglas Warriors 0

Lengthens 2, Black Mambas 0

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