Motor Action end Dynamos winning streak

By Eddie Chikamhi

Dynamos ……………………… (1) 1 Motor Action ……………………….…. (1) 2

The Dynamos bubble has burst. The Harare giants’ eight-match winning run finally came to an end yesterday when they surrendered an early first half lead to lose to Motor Action in a top-of-the-table Premiership soccer clash at Rufaro yesterday.

The Mighty Bulls struck twice courtesy of striker Enasio Perezo in the 43rd minute and midfielder Allan Gahadzikwa, who bagged the game with a penalty in the 70th minute.

But Dynamos, who had surged ahead through Ashley Rambanapasi’s 16th minute strike, finished the match with 10 men after Murape Murape was sent off by referee Thabani Mkanjo for his uncouth behaviour late in the second half.

Nonetheless, it was a special win for Motor Action while Dynamos were left agonising over the defeat as coach Elvis Chiweshe felt the referee undeservedly awarded their opponents a penalty that sealed his side’s fate yesterday.

Dynamos had surged ahead in the 16th minute when Rambanapasi’s well struck effort inside the penalty box found the back of the net but the Mighty Bulls hit back through Perezo and Gahadzikwa in both halves. This saw the Mighty Bulls becoming the first team to collect maximum points against Dynamos in a league match this season.

The victory was more special to the Mighty Bulls’ coach Joey Antipas who has enjoyed a solid start with his side this year. And Antipas, who is also the Warriors assistant coach, was elated by inflicting Dynamos their first defeat of the season and wrestling pole position from the Harare giants.

“This was a good performance from Motor Action because after we had conceded first we did not surrender the match. Instead we came back strong to score twice. Of course beating Dynamos is something special and I am happy with the victory. We hope we will continue with the same form,” said Antipas.

But his opposite number Chiweshe, though he accepted defeat, said he felt they were not treated fairly by referee Mkanjo. Chiweshe heaped much of the blame for his team’s defeat on the decision by the referee to award a penalty to Motor Action when Charles Sibanda fell under challenge from defender Kutyauripo inside the box.

“We played very well although we lost the game. It’s part of football but I was not happy with the penalty that was awarded to Motor Action. These people (the match officials) know the laws of the game better and if you look at that incident, Motor Action were not supposed to get a penalty because it was a clear dive.”

“Even the red card that was shown to Murape was not warranted. I personally told the referee that I was not impressed because he played a very big role in the outcome of this game,” said Chiweshe.

The Glamour Boys, who enjoyed the better of the exchanges, opened the scoring when Kutyauripo sent in a cross from the right to find Rambanapasi inside the box after good work with Edmore Mashiri down the flank.

Rambanapasi, who played an attacking role yesterday, found all the time to pick his spot before firing past the Bulls’ veteran goalkeeper Marlon Jani. Meanwhile, in another Premiership match played yesterday, Shabanie Mine and Hwange drew 1-1 at Maglas.

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