Merciless Dynamos destroy Zimbabwe Saints

By Grace Chingoma

Dynamos ………………………………………………(1) 4

Zimbabwe Saints ……………………………………….0

Dynamic Dynamos roared to within just a point of the leading pair of leaders Motor Action and FC Platinum when they mercilessly destroyed Zimbabwe Saints in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League tie at Rufaro on Sunday.

Once their major title rivals – Motor Action and second-placed FC Platinum – dropped two crucial points each when being held at home by Chicken Inn and CAPS United respectively, the initiative was handed to DeMbare to close in the leading duo.

Callisto Pasuwa’s men responded to the challenge in style, turning on the magic against Saints and they could have actually left Rufaro with a double digit victory were it not for lack of precision on the part of Roderick Mutuma and some fine saves by the visitors’ goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya.

But Pasuwa – unbeaten in four games since he took over the reins from his friend Lloyd Mutasa – had reason to smile once again after goals by Cuthbert Malajila in 44th minute, Archieford Gutu (50th minute), Martin Vengesayi (78th minute) and Mutuma (81st minute) capped a fine afternoon for Dynamos.

DeMbare now have 42 points and but it is the manner in which they have found their rhythm again that has piled pressure on their title rivals with seven matches to go.

Motor Action and FC Platinum’s results appeared to have added some pressure on Dynamos players as they hurried their efforts early on and for all their first half dominance they only had Malajila’s goal to show for it.

Malajila, scoring his third goal in his fourth game since rejoining Dynamos after an unhappy spell in Libya, found the target at the end of the first half, poking the ball home through Diya’s legs after receiving a pass from Mutuma in a crowded box.

Five minutes after the restart, Dynamos increased their lead when Mutuma did very well on the flank keeping possession and then sweeping past two markers before teeing the ball on for Gutu to control and fire home.

The Harare Giants were now on song and coach Pasuwa made three changes, which further added firepower to the team.

He hauled off the pair of Gutu for Tawanda Muparati and Murape Murape who made way for the speedy Martin Vengesayi.

Pasuwa was also forced to make an injury inspired substitution following with Malajila being stretchered off and replaced by Nicholas Arufandika.

Within five minutes of stay on the pitch, Vengesayi made his presence felt in the 77th minute with a spirited run that saw him thread a fine pass to Mutuma who however, wasted the effort.

But there was no going back for Dynamos and Vengesayi then scored the insurance goal a minute later when he beat Chipo Tsodzo and the Saints defence for pace and slotted the ball past Diya.

However, DeMbare were not finished and Mutuma this time made sure when he scored off a fine delivery from Arufandika who was enjoying his game on the left flank. But with Saints offering little in resistance and barely troubling Washington Arubi, DeMbare began playing to the galelry and seemed content with their goal harvest.

That decision to play to the gallery however, met with disapproval from assistant coach Tonderai Ndiraya.

“Who said when you score four goals you cannot score more. I will talk to the boys because goal difference can count at the end of the day.

“We still have a long way to go. The first half it wasn’t a good performance but when we scored we regained confidence and in the second half we were all over them. From the third goal we really played our football and we could have even scored more goals,” said Ndiraya.

Zimbabwe Saints were under the guidance of assistant coach Edmore Sibanda in the absence of club legend Ephraim Chawanda who is reportedly ill and said to be recuperating in Botswana.

Sibanda said he is confident that his team would survive relegation. We played very well in the first half but lost concentration. The break affected us a bit as we only resumed training on Monday. But we will survive relegation,” said Sibanda.

In the opening stages of the game Saints seemed to be holding their own with veteran Tsodzo and John Kapenya standing resolute while Diya was a pillar of inspiration with some fine saves off some attempts by Gutu and Mutuma. But once DeMbare found the breakthrough Saints crumbled and it became a one way street. Mutuma was unlucky when the upright denied his 13th minute effort, which had evaded Diya.

In the 20th minute, Mutuma watched in agony as his shot, off a fine delivery from Denver Mukamba, hit the side netting.

A minute later, Gutu, who last week secured a deal with Sweden club Kalmar, sent a cracking long range shot but was denied by the woodwork.

Teams:

Dynamos: W. Arubi, T. Magorimbo, G. Zhokinyi, G. Magariro, D. Kutyauripo, M. Makopa, A. Gutu (T. Muparati 61st minute), D. Mukamba, M. Murape (M. Vengesayi 70th minute), C. Malajila (N. Arufandika 75th minute), R. Mutuma.

Zimbabwe Saints: M. Diya, S Linyama, E Rusike, J. Kapenya, P. Mlamuli (T. Ngwenya 53rd minute), N. Murisa, C. Tsodzo, N. Dube, M. Ncube, G. Fireyi, A. Mbaiwa.