By Eddie Chikamhi
Dynamos……………….(2)4
Shabanie Mine…………(0)1
DYNAMOS responded to their midweek setback in emphatic fashion when they fired four goals to dispatch out-of-sorts Shabanie Mine at Rufaro yesterday and reclaim top spot in the Castle Lager Premiership soccer championship race.
After losing 0-1 to Chicken Inn last week, the Harare giants needed to win yesterday’s match to boost morale in their battle for the control of the championship destiny against title contenders Highlanders.
And it appeared they were motivated by Highlanders’ defeat to Monomotapa on Saturday as Callisto Pasuwa’s men played with more purpose from the first whistle.
They had three chances which went begging earlier before their game took a dip, but a fortuitous goal by impressive left-back Ocean Mushure in the 34th minute turned the tide in their favour.
Shabanie Mine defender Smart Muchabaiwa doubled the Harare giants’ lead shortly before the breather with a spectacular own goal in the 44th minute. DeMbare added two more goals in the second half with Simba Sithole getting his first strike for the Glamour Boys while Farai Mupasiri made it 4-0 in the 73rd minute.
But the Glamour Boys were caught off-guard just as the fans were still discussing Mupasiri’s goal when substitute Francis Kanda controlled the ball and placed it beyond the reach of goalkeeper George Chigova to reduce the arrears for the visitors.
Dynamos assistant coach Tonderai Ndiraya was elated by the result as the Harare giants now occupy pole position with 55 points from 24 games, two points clear of second-placed Bosso. “We are quite impressed,” said Ndiraya. “This is a good result considering that we were coming from a defeat.
“It means a lot and I would like to believe it is a confidence booster although I feel we still need to work even harder on our game.”
Mupasiri had the first clearer chance for the Glamour Boys in the 19th minute when he got the better of Shabanie Mine defender Rodney Mware, but his next touch betrayed him in the face of advancing goalkeeper Victor Twaliki.
DeMbare were to take the lead when Twaliki misjudged Mushure’s delivery from the left flank and literally helped the ball into his own nets as he tried to scramble it to safety.
Mushure, who enjoyed the applause of the Blue Army, had a blinder of a game yesterday and the goal, which came from almost the similar position when he scored against Harare City two weeks ago, capped a fine day in the office.
With DeMbare now pressing forward, David Kutyauripo, who had a rather subdued game before he was pulled out in the second half, made a good run down the right channel and flighted a good cross into the area which Muchabaiwa miscued into his own nets with a powerful header as he tried to clear the lines.
Midfielder Tawanda Muparati could have extended DeMbare’s lead, but his flashing header from a free-kick by lively winger Cliff Sekete crashed against the underside of the crossbar in the 47th minute with Twaliki out of the picture.
Then it was newboy Sithole’s moment in the 51st minute as he buried a good chance after Sekete lured two defenders to him before releasing the ball back into the box. Denver Mukamba’s shot missed the target in the 56th minute before the match was stopped for seven minutes when the Shabanie corner flag was broken.
Sekete continued with his dynamic moves up-front and spotted Sithole following another good run, but the former CAPS United and Mamelodi Sundowns man sent his effort just wide of goal.
However, DeMbare were rewarded with another goal in the 73rd minute when Mupasiri sent a low shot into the empty nets from a rebound after goalkeeper Twaliki had blocked Tichaona Mabvura’s initial effort from a crisp through pass by Denver Mukamba.
Defender Partson Jaure also pressed forward in the dying minutes but sent his cracking shot skywards while Twaliki had to stretch to tip another threatening effort over in the 85th minute. Shabanie Mine coach Luke Maso-mere conceded defeat and said his charges did not play well.
However, Masomere is still optimistic of a top four finish despite the defeat as his team remained unchanged with 39 points.
“It happens in football when you concede an own goal that you are bound to be punished. We were our own worst enemies and I was not surprised when Dynamos added two more goals in the second half because we did not play well today.
“Shabanie are not a big team in terms of player resources and when we miss one player it will be felt.”
Teams
Dynamos: G. Chigova, D. Kutyauripo (G. Bello, 76th minute), O. Mushure, P. Jaure, G. Zhokinyi, D. Chafa, T. Muparati (T. Mabvura, 69th minute), C. Sekete, D. Mukamba, S. Sithole (D. Maringwa, 88th minute), F. Mupasiri
Shabanie Mine: V. Twaliki, W. Ngonya (F. Kanda, 58th minute), R. Sibanda, R. Mware, S. Muchabaiwa, T. Mombeshora (S. Choenda, 58th minute), P. Sithole, E. Phiri, T. Rukanda, P. Zimunya, N. Maziwisa.
