Bulls kick weak DeMbare out of Uhuru Cup

By Augustine Hwata

Dynamos………………………………(0) 1

Motor Action…………………………..(1) 2

HARARE- Goals from Gift Phiri and Ishmael Lawe propelled Motor Action into the final of this year’s edition of the Independence Trophy after they dismissed bogey side Dynamos in a semi-final tie at Rufaro yesterday.

Roderick Mutuma scored from the penalty spot in the second half but it was not enough to save Dynamos from a defeat against the side they beat for the NetOne Charity Shield during the pre-season. Yesterday’s match failed to provide the spark and the slippery conditions of the pitch following some showers made it a big yawn.

Dynamos coach Callisto Pasuwa elected to rest most of the players who started in their Champions League first round, second leg match against Mozambican side Liga Muculamana at the same venue on Sunday. Pasuwa sought to give the fringe players, who had been warming the bench, a chance to start but they failed to come to the party as the Mighty Bulls elbowed them out of the Uhuru Trophy.

Dynamos started with Washington Arubi who captained the team while Mutuma — who was expelled towards the end — was the only on-field player to start the game from the side that beat Liga Muculmana 1-0. There were first team places for veteran defender Guthrie Zhokinyi and Gift Bello who played in central defence while Augustine Mbara and Timire Mamvura operated as wingbacks.

Leo Kurauzvione played the holding role in a midfield that also included Wonder Sithole, Tineyi Chitora and Tawanda Muparati. Speedy forward Martin Vengesayi was tasked with partnering Mutuma up-front. Young centre back Patson Jaure later came from the bench to replace an injured Kurauzvione as Dynamos created a few chances in the early stage but failed to convert with Vengesayi and Mutuma missing opportunities.

It was Phiri who stunned the DeMbare camp when he curled the ball from the edge of the box as it sailed past Arubi after seven minutes. Mutuma received his first caution from referee Pedzisai Chadya for playing the ball after the whistle had gone .

Motor Action sought to increase their lead as Isaac Masame whipped in a free-kick that went just over the bar in the 35th minute but the match which was a big yawn turned into another comedy when some fans from the eastern, southern and northern stands invaded the pitch as they headed to the Western grandstand in search of shelter from the showers.

Police battled to contain the situation and there was a stoppage of nearly five minutes before sanity was restored.

After resumption, Chitora could have pulled a goal back but the former Blue Ribbon talisman lacked precision while some fans who had remained in the notorious Vietman stand took matters into their hands as they threw some missiles towards second assistant referee Shelton Mushanguri after Vengesayi had been fouled. Dynamos could have scored in the 64th minute when the pacey Vengesayi charged into the box and managed to beat Jani but Dominic Mukandi was on guard to clear from the line.

DeMbare were then punished Dynamos for spurning such an offer as Masame raced towards goal while Arubi made an attempt to narrow the angle. Masame fed Lawe who then slotted past Arubi for Motor Action’s second in the 67th minute. DeMbare, who never rose to the expected heights and lacked the determination, were lucky to salvage a goal after Chadya awarded them a penalty for a challenge by Benard on Vengesayi.

Bernard was shown a yellow card and up-stepped Mutuma to score and tempers began to flare as Motor Action players employed delaying tactics while Dynamos players wanted to have the match restarted. During the madness, Mutuma made contact with Jani but the veteran goalkeeper appeared to make a meal out of the incident as he wriggled on the ground and the goalkeeper’s antics earned Mutuma a second yellow card and subsequent expulsion two minutes before the end of the match.

Motor Action assistant coach Prince Matore was happy to grind out a victory which will set them a date against either Hwange or FC Platinum who are playing in the other semi-final today. “We are happy to beat the team and it was our aim to be in the final. Dynamos were becoming our bogey side but things are changing now,” said Matore.

Matore said they were not reading much into the fact that Dynamos most of their first choice players. “The fact that they used their registered players means they are the team. We now expect to beat them in the league. We did not have a specific game plan but we just said lets go and play our normal game,” he said.

We wanted an early goal which would upset the team and we managed to get that. “The boys did us proud as they managed to turn the tables against Dynamos,” Matore said.

Teams

Dynamos: — W. Arubi, L. Kurauzvione (P. Jaure 32nd min), G. Zhikonyi, G. Bello, T. Mamvura, T. Muparati, A. Mbara, T. Chitora (F. Mupasira 62nd min) R. Mutuma, M. Vengesayi W. Sithole (T. Mabvura 67th min)

Motor Action:— M. Jani, Y. Ebabali (T. Masuku 75th min), J. Jam, P. Benard, D. Mukandi, B. Chimwamuchere, M. Kadzola, I. Lawe (M. Ncube 66th min), N. Maroto (P. Kabwe 66th min), I. Masame, G. Phiri.