Dynamos beat Motor Action to lift Mbada Cup

Dynamos defied the possession stats to beat Motor Action 1-0 in the inaugural Mbada Diamonds Cup Final at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday. Millions of viewers across Africa watched the match being broadcast live on SuperSport 9 and saw Roderick Mutuma score the winning goal.

By Eddie Chikamhi

Motor Action ……………………………………………… 0

Dynamos ……………………………………………….. (0) 1

Gangly forward Roderick Mutuma found the target once again as Harare giants Dynamos capped a memorable season when they overcame fighting Motor Action to win the inaugural Mbada Diamonds Cup at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday.

Mutuma ensured that DeMbare, who won the league championship last weekend, were back on the winners’ podium with a fine finish from close range in the 76th minute that handed coach Callisto Pasuwa and his charges a remarkable league double this season.

It has been four years since Dynamos achieved such a feat with then coach David Mandigora guiding them to a double after winning the league and the CBZ Cup.

But Dynamos would be the first to admit that their win over the Mighty Bulls yesterday was a combination of luck and hard work as they played second fiddle for much of this rain interrupted final.

On their part Motor Action were left to curse themselves after battling so hard the whole 90 minutes but finding it hard to beat Man of the Match Washington Arubi, who made a number of good saves, especially in the second half.

Despite their defeat, the Mighty Bulls deserve credit for their determination and fighting spirit, which was a fitting end to the country’s richest knockout tournament by all standards.

The teams delivered their best on a water-logged pitch to make sure fans got full value for their money in a match that almost capitulated into an anti-climax earlier on when it was twice stopped in the first half because of a thunderstorm.

The storm had been building since morning and fans were forced to scurry for cover soon after kickoff.

With the threat of lightning, South African referee Daniel Bennett had no option but to send the players back to the dressing rooms after only 17 minutes of play.

Bennett then resumed play after 15 minutes and while the threat of lightining disappeared, the Fifa referee was once again forced to halt play in the 24th minute, this time because the National Sports Stadium pitch had become waterlogged.

Poor stadium management then came to the fore as those tasked with running the giant facility failed to even provide equipment to scoop away water that was now rendering play difficult.

In the past the National Stadium had a record of having the best pitch drainage but that has all now paled into history despite facility having undergone a major refurbishment.

After the second stoppage, the two teams and the fans had to ensue a longer wait with Bennett insisting the water had to be cleared first.

It was an embarrassing sight as workers from the sponsors – Mbada Diamonds – had to use their helmets and dustbins to scoop the water away and after their frantic efforts play eventually resumed.

And action finally resumed DeMbare tested their opponents first when Tawanda Muparati released a powerful shot that just went wide.

Mutuma, the Premiership top scorer with 15 goals, had the first real chance for Dynamos in the 39th minute when he was sent through by Thomas Magorimbo but disappointingly blasted his effort into the legs of the advancing Marlon Jani.

Jani was at hand to deny the DeMbare forward when he dived to his left to stop a threatening and keeps scores level going for the breather.

But the Mighty Bulls were always threatening at the other end where Kuda Musharu and Tawanda Nyamandwe worked tirelessly in search of an elusive goal.

They, however, found Dynamos defence stalwarts Guthrie Zhokinyi and Gift Bello always alert while goalkeeper Arubi kept a clean sheet for the umpteenth time to finish the tournament without conceding a goal.

Arubi, however, had a busy day in office as he had to summon his experience to punch out for a corner Gift Phiri’s close range shot just five minutes after the restart and was again called to service eight minutes later, to thaw down another strike from the Motor Action midfielder.

Defender Reuben Machaya joined the attack when Masimba Mambare took a corner kick on the right but headed over the crossbar in the 61st minute.

Dynamos’ moment of glory came in the 76th minute when substitute Denver Mukamba broke through the middle and unleashed a powerful shot that Jani punched back into play.

But the ball fell onto the path of Mutuma who did well to find the back of the net with his left foot from an acute angle, and send the Blue Army into delirium.

Mutuma could have added another goal from a rebound four minutes later but was denied by the upright when he reacted fastest after Martin Vengesai’s effort was again blocked by Jani.

Pasuwa who earned his stripes when winning the league championship last weekend after years of working as an assistant to a number of coaches, was naturally elated at sealing a double.

“I am the happiest man ever. I think this will prove that I am capable of standing on my own after working for several years as assistant.

“We had a problem after the rains because the pitch was waterlogged so we told the boys that they should take the game to Motor Action’s half,” said Pasuwa.

Motor Action coach Joey Antipas accepted defeat and paid tribute to his players for their determination.

“We played very well. I think we had a good game especially in the second half but I will give it to Washie (Arubi) because he made a couple of saves to deny us.

“That is the nature of football. I give credit to Denver, and Marlon did well.

“Overall I would give my players 100 percent because they fought hard,” said Antipas.

Teams

Motor Action

M. Jani, P. Bernard, O. Mushure, R. Machaya, G. Moyo, I. Masame, A. Gahadzikwa, G. Phiri, T. Nyamandwe, K. Musharu, M. Mambare

Dynamos

W. Arubi, D. Kutyauripo, T. Magorimbo, G. Zhokinyi, G. Bello, M. Makopa, T. Muparati, A. Gutu (D. Mukamba, 44th minute), M. Murape (M. Vengesai, 59th minute), R. Mutuma (L. Kurauzvione, 87th minute), C. Malajila.