By Grace Chingoma
Motor Action ………………..……..0
Dynamos ………………..………….0
A DYNAMOS side without in-form Denver Mukamba put up a poor show in a Castle Lager Premiership match at Rufaro yesterday and were lucky to escape with a draw as Motor Action wasted their chances in a drab affair.
The Mighty Bulls, who were the home team, also lacked urgency in their approach, chose not to employ ball boys and action was continuously delayed in another bad advertisement for the local game.
The absence of talented midfielder Mukamba, who is out with a groin injury left the Glamour Boys engine room crippled and without his creativity they looked ordinary.
Seasoned centre backs George Magariro and Guthrie Zhokinyu were also badly exposed at the back in the absence of youthful Partson Jaure, who has been a revelation this season but sat out the game because of injury.
Dynamos coach Callisto Pasuwa conceded that they missed the services of the lanky Mukamba who scored a gem of a goal in Sunday’s 2-1 victory over Chicken Inn before he limped off in the second half injured.
“We missed him a lot. Maybe it is a challenge to other players that when Denver is not around the midfield is dead. Considering that Denver has been hitting those balls, we couldn’t shoot at target for 45 minutes and it really affected us.
“I think we really have to address our offensive play. Most of the time we were second to the ball especially in defence where we were jittery and the midfield wasn’t mobile. A draw was a fair result,” said Pasuwa.
Pasuwa said he would have wanted to Dynamos to secure a confidence boosting win ahead of their massive showdown with leaders Highlanders in their next assignment.
While DeMbare were happy with the point away from home it was not the same for Motor Action gaffer Joey Antipas who felt his charges donated two points.
“It’s two points lost. We scored a goal which was disallowed when it was a genuine goal. We were the better side, created chances but we were just unfortunate and Norman (Maroto) was also unfortunate,” said Antipas.
In the seventh minute former Dynamos striker, Maroto, missed a free header off Yves Ebabali’s cross. The former Gunners and FC Platinum striker also failed to maximise and tap home in a goal mouth melee and DeMbare survived.
The champions could have found the target on 30 minutes when veteran midfielder, Murape Murape’s effort went wide after he connected a fine delivery from Takesure Chinyama.
In the 39th minute, Zambian forward Derrick Kabwe, who again started ahead of Roderick Mutuma showed he is good on aerial balls, fluffed his chance when he connected weakly with his feet.
The match which had promised entertainment value in the opening period, sadly fizzled into a yawn.
But the Mighty Bulls thought they had found the much needed goal in the 70th minute when Maroto headed into the nets but the move which had started from a corner was disallowed by referee Norman Matemera who adjudged that the player was in an offside position.
Three minutes later, Mighty Bulls defender Morris Kadzola was forced to head the ball out of danger with substitute Mutuma lurking behind him.
DeMbare could have found a late winner in the 86th minute when Devon Chafa, who was playing in an attacking midfield role was set up by Mutuma in a move which was started by Chinyama on the flank.
Mutuma also shook his head in disbelief in the 89th minute was when his header off Ocean Mushure’s cross was saved by Motor Action goalkeeper Marlon Jani.
Teams:
Motor Action:
M. Jani, J. Bernard, M. Kadzola, G. Moyo, J. Jam, B. Chimwamuchere,T. Masuku, I. Masame, Y. Ebabali, G. Phiri(N. Maviri 63rd minute), N. Maroto.
Dynamos:
W. Arubi, O. Mushure, T. Magorimbo, G. Magariro, G. Zhokinyu, M. Makopa, D. Chafa, M. Murape, M. Vengesayi (T. Mabvura 71st minute), D. Kabwe (R. Mutuma 61st minute), T. Chinyama.
