Cornered Dynamos win at long last
By Grace Chingoma
Dynamos………………………..(1)2 Platinum…………………………0
They have always said a cornered Dynamos, just like an Egyptian cobra, is very dangerous and, just in case you doubt that, Premiership moneybags FC Platinum will provide a good answer for you.
There was no Egyptian referee to cause controversy at Rufaro yesterday but the fighting qualities of a cornered Egyptian cobra were all evident from an under-pressure DeMbare as they floored the visitors.
Having lost their last three matches, including two in the league, and failed to score in any of them, DeMbare were clearly under pressure going into this tie against an expensively assembled team that had won its first two league matches.
The Glamour Boys were also without Denver Mukamba and Archford Gutu, the cream of their emerging crop of young players, and the good money was on the visitors winning this tie.
But, for years, Dynamos have always shown their best qualities when they are down and yesterday they got it right through a solid performance rewarded by goals from Martin Vengesayi (seventh minute) and skipper Desmond Maringwa (89th minute).
In winning yesterday’s match Dynamos also ensured that bitter rivals CAPS United would not share top spot, on nine points, with FC Platinum. It was the first time that Dynamos had scored a league goal this season and, more importantly, the first time they bagged their first set of three points.
Coach Lloyd Mutasa made some changes in his personnel and departed from his usage of a lone striker. He partnered Vengesayi and the lanky Rodrick Mutuma, impressive yesterday, up-front while there were also some changes in the middle of the park.
Milton Makopa, Murape Murape and Maringwa, who did not start in the previous match, were given a nod. And this seemed to pay quick dividends for the Glamour Boys who quickly settled and started the match strongly.
They broke the deadlock when Vengesayi ran onto a weighted passed that broke the visitors’ defensive wall and slid the ball past drawn-out goalkeeper Muranganwa Nengomasha.
The hosts then sealed the match in the 89th minute after substitute Patrick Khumbula did well on the flank to beat his marker and set up Maringwa who swept his effort home sending Rufaro into delirium.
Before Dynamos’ killer second goal the visitors, who gave as much as they got with a strong performance that was not rewarded by goals, had threatened to find the equaliser that their industry probably deserved.
They dominated most of the second half, with Maringwa subdued for a large part of that segment after an excellent first half, but Dynamos handled whatever they threw at them with Guthrie Zhokinyi and George Magariro outstanding in central defence.
Dynamos’ fans booed their former hero Benjamin Marere, accusing him of being a prostitute, for deciding to abandon them for his new home at FC Platinum.
Every touch by the winger was booed and it appeared to affect his game and Marere failed to come to life and was duly pulled out midway through the second half. Not even the introduction of Norman Maroto as a substitute could change the tide for FC Platinum.
Dynamos assistant coach Masimba Dinyero said his charges were prepared for the match and fought hard for the victory.
“The fatigue is over now. We didn’t feel the absence of the players as the guys on duty delivered for us. This is the beginning of a new era,” said Dinyero.
Platinum FC coach Benjamin Moyo said: “We didn’t score. We didn’t play well.”
Teams
Dynamos: W. Arubi, G. Magariro, G. Zhokinyi, D. Kutyauripo, T. Magorimbo (A. Mbara 56th minute), M. Makopa, D. Maringwa, T. Muparati, M. Murape (F. Vimisayi 73rd minute), M. Vengesayi, R. Mutuma (P. Khumbula 76th minute).
Platinum: M. Nengomasha, N. Togara, K. Banda, B. Dube, Z. Ngodzo, M. Mupera, S. Njeleza, B. Ncube, B. Marere (A. Marime 60th minute), C. Sibanda (N. Maroto 69th minute), F. Kanda(T. Kamusoko 78th minute).
