DeMbare stretch lead over drawing Bosso

Augustine Hwata Sports Reporter

Harare City…………………………..0

Dynamos…………………………. (0) 1

ENTERPRISING leftback Ocean Mushure struck a late wonder goal worth winning any match as champions Dynamos edged a stubborn Harare City in a cliff-hanger of a Castle Lager Premiership tie at Rufaro yesterday.

Mushure’s beautiful volley — struck just outside the box — was his first goal for the Glamour Boys since he joined the team at the start of the season. The match appeared to be heading for a draw as Harare City repelled everything that Dynamos threw at them, but Mushure’s sucker-punch gave DeMbare the invaluable three points.

Crucialy for Callisto Pasuwa and his men, the victory helped them open a two-point lead over old enemies Highlanders who kept their unbeaten run intact, but were restricted to a goalless draw by Chicken Inn in a Bulawayo derby at Barbourfields yesterday.

It was sweet revenge for Dynamos who fell to a similar late goal against Harare City in the reverse fixture when Quiton Masika rose from the bench to score in the 88th minute in Round 10 of the fixtures. Interestingly, the match in June was also played on a Wednesday and attracted a decent crowd just like yesterday.

Harare City goalkeeper Nomore John, who had pulled out a couple of outstanding saves during the game, could not hide his disappointment with the result and shed tears at the end of the match. The goalkeeper had thwarted a close-range header from Guthrie Zhokinyi and had also blocked efforts from Martin Vengesayi and Denver Mukamba.

Striker Roderick Mutuma sent his effort over the bar as John frustrated DeMbare for the greater part of the match. Such was the frustration in the Dynamos camp that they turned to superstition to find some answers as to why John was thwarting everything they threw at the goalkeeper.

A Dynamos fan was then instructed by the supporters, on the southern grandstand to urinate just behind John’s goal area. And as fate would have it, Dynamos finally got the breakthrough immediately after the act, leaving some to believe in the ritual and the young fan was hoisted as a hero by the ecstatic supporters.

In getting the goal, Warriors midfielder Mukamba struck a powerful low shot that defender Witness Nyamusaka blocked onto the path of Mushure who was lurking just outside the box. With a first time effort, Mushure pulled the trigger with his left foot and the ball nestled into the top corner of the net in the 89th minute.

“I am delighted because I have scored today (yesterday). This is my first goal for Dynamos in the league. Before the game, I was telling the guys that I was going to score and my wish is for the club to maintain our top position on the log.

“When Denver’s effort was blocked, I did not have an option to pass the ball around, so I had to aim at goal,” said Mushure. Dynamos assistant coach Tonderayi Ndiraya admitted that Harare City gave them a run for their money and he described Mushure’s goal as a top class act.

“It was a wonderful goal. It came from an unlikely source and it was well executed on the volley. I thought it’s one of our best goals,” said Ndiraya.

“It was a very difficult game for us as we started off playing so well in the first 10 minutes, then after that we took a back seat.diraya believes their never-say-die spirit helped them to win the match as they fought for a win while Harare City appeared content with a possible draw.

“After that it was ping-pong football, it was drab but we came back in the second half and tried to fight. We fought very hard but it was a shaky performance but I am glad we collected three points. That’s what we wanted. We kept on believing in ourselves and we knew we would get a goal.

“I am sure in the last 10 to 15 minutes we were camped in their half and that made us believe we could get the goal,” Ndiraya said. Harare City coach Bigboy Mawiwi could not begrudge Mushure’s memorable goal, even when it condemned his side to a defeat.

“That was a brilliant goal. It was a gem of a goal and created out of nothing,” said Mawiwi. A seasoned coach, Mawiwi said his team had braced for a tough battle against their more illustrious rivals.

“Going into this game, we knew it was going to be tough because we had beaten them in the first round. It was going to be difficult to beat Dynamos who are now on top of the log and on a roll,” said Mawiwi.

Harare City, Mawiwi said, will put the defeat behind and focus on the next match.

“But we should put the defeat behind us and move on. Focus should now be on the Mbada Diamonds Cup where we will play FC Platinum,” he said.

Meanwhile, an estimated 8 000 fans paid to watch the game which grossed nearly US$27 000 with the cheapest ticket going for US$3. The crowd was twice the 4 400 who paid to watch the Warriors against Angola African Cup of Nation qualifier at the same venue on Sunday.

However, the international encounter for which the cheapest ticket was pegged at US$10 grossed about US$42 000. The Herald

Teams

Harare City: N. John, W. Kalongonda, G. Nyamadzawo, T. Nguwodzawo, E. Tapera (M. Ngwenya 53rd min), W. Nyamutsaka, R. Maketo, R. Manunuwire (C. Muvuti 81st min), N. Ziwini, D. Peter, S. Solongani (T. Chawapihwa 60th min).

Dynamos: G. Chigova, T. Magorimbo, O. Mushure, G. Zhokinyi, D. Chafa, F. Mupasiri (R. Mutuma 70th min), D. Mukamba, C. Sekete (T. Mabvura 58th min) P. Jaure, M. Vengesayi (D. Maringwa 90th min), T. Muparati