Dynamos ‘two piecer’ sinks Chicken Inn

By Eddie Chikamhi

Dynamos ………………….….. (1) 2

Chicken Inn …………………. (0) 1

Denver Mukamba turned on a great performance to light up the afternoon for Dynamos before injury spoiled his day as the Harare giants coasted to a nervy win over Chicken Inn in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Rufaro yesterday.

The slippery midfielder, who was in devastating form in the drawn match against Esperance of Tunisia in a Champions League tie last week, picked up from where he left off and his combination with big striker Takesure Chinyama was always a threat to the visitors in the first half.

Mukamba handed DeMbare the lead when he opened the scoring in the 19th minute with a brilliant move from the midfield and veteran Murape Murape, who came on as his replacement soon after the breather, doubled the scoreline on the hour mark.

But Chicken Inn, playing with 10 men following the expulsion of their captain Herbert Dick in the first half, could count themselves unlucky to leave the pitch without a point after putting the hosts in a tight corner for most of the second half.

The Gamecocks staged a brave fightback and were rewarded in the 72nd minute when Danny Phiri headed home from close range. The goal however was not enough to stop a disappointing run of three defeats in succession.

DeMbare consolidated their place on the log table with 16 points from seven games. Despite the win Dynamos coach Callisto Pasuwa was still not satisfied by his side’s showing.

“We had a good game in the first half but we didn’t play well in the second. We had a nervous end and we were always second to the ball. I think it’s because about three quarters of our players were off form. We were also forced to make substitutions against our game plan because of injuries.

 

“I know people will not understand it if I talk of fatigue. These guys have played lots of football inside a short period of time,” said Pasuwa.

DeMbare were never the same following the substitution of Mukamba in the 54th minute through a groin injury. The young midfielder displayed some scintillating skill and his precision gave Dynamos the upper hand early in the first half.

Credit, however, should also go to Chinyama who drew three defenders with him deep into the midfield before laying the ball on to Mukamba. The slim midfielder controlled the ball and rushed into space before firing a low shot that beat the diving goalkeeper Njabulo Nyoni.

But Martin Vengesai could have done better four minutes earlier when the ball fell on his feet after Derrick Kabwe had managed to keep it in play from Chinyama’s high cross.

Dynamos coach Pasuwa gave Zambian import Kabwe a starting place yesterday with Roderick Mutuma, who appeared out of sorts, coming on as a 54th minute substitute. DeMbare came close in the 33rd minute when Chinyama won a free kick just outside the box but Mukamba’s volley was tipped over the crossbar from a well-rehearsed set piece.

Chicken Inn were reduced to 10 men when Dick was shown a red card by referee Batsirayi Muchenje after pulling the goal-bound Chinyama’s shirt in the 36th minute.

DeMbare made the most of their numerical advantage up to the half time break and could have got their second goal in the 44th minute following a delightful display of skill by Chinyama and Mutuma.

Mukamba roasted  his marker Makhosi Ncube on the line and worked his way through the middle before finding Chinyama.

The big striker responded with a deft touch past defender Moses Jackson and then left the keeper Nyoni for dead while laying the ball for Vengesai whose shot was scrambled out and Chicken Inn defenders cleared their lines.

Vengesai, however, got it right in the 60th minute when he outpaced three defenders and laid a low cross that was sent home by Murape for Dynamos’ second goal.

But Chicken Inn refused to throw in the towel and were the more offensive side for the most part of the last half. DeMbare played the last 20 minutes of the game crippled at the back following the injury to their centreback Partson Jaure when they had exhausted their substitutes.

Utility player Thomas Magorimbo had to partner Guthrie Zhokinyi at the heart of defence in a makeshift combination while Jaure was moved to the rightback position.

The visitors continued to pile on the pressure powered by their substitutes Lineance Mpofu, Thabani Goredema and Thomas Chimenya as Dynamos held on to dear life under siege. They defended resolutely to deny Chicken Inn a comeback.

The visitors coach Adam Ndlovu watched in disappointment as his side slumped to their third successive defeat.  The Gamecocks who — at one time sat on top of the table for two weeks — had lost to newboys Hardbody and Buffaloes in their last two matches.

“We are very disappointed with the result. Three losses on a row are not good. But then I think we did well in the second half with 10 men although we had struggled in the first. We were forced to make tactical changes following that red card and we played well with 10 men. If we had played like that with an equal number of players on the field maybe we could have at least forced a draw,” said Ndlovu.

Teams

Dynamos: W. Arubi, T. Magorimbo, O. Mushure, G. Zhokinyi, P. Jaure, D. Chafa, T. Muparati, D. Mukamba (M. Murape, 54th minute), D. Kabwe (R. Mutuma, 54th minute), M. Vengesai (W. Sithole, 63rd minute), T. Chinyama

Chicken Inn: N. Nyoni, M. Jackson, B. Mbiriri, H. Dick, F. Chindungwe, G. Goddard, W. Mukanga, D. Julius (T. Chimenya, 66th minute), M. Ncube (T. Goredema, 46th minute), E. Chikwaikwai (L. Mpofu, 66th minute), D. Phiri.