DeMbare down but not out in Lesotho

Augustine Hwata in MASERU, Lesotho

Lesotho Correctional Services…………..(0) 1

Dynamos………………………………………..0

(Dynamos win 3-1 on aggregate)

DYNAMOS were left with some questions hanging over their potential to reach the group stage of the Champions League after they were greatly exposed by a determined Lesotho Correctional Services in their preliminary round second leg encounter at Setsoto Stadium in Maseru yesterday.

Carrying a healthy 3-0 lead from the first leg in Harare two weeks ago, the Glamour Boys had hoped to finish off the Lesotho prison wardens in their background and progress to the second round in style.

But it was LCS who retained some measure of pride when they upstaged their fancied visitors with a late goal that silenced the vociferous band of Dynamos’ travelling fans. Although they advanced 3-1 on aggregate, Dynamos must certainly up their game as they prepare to face tougher North African opposition.

DeMbare will face either Al Ittihad of Libya or Club Bizertin of Tunisia in the first round. The Harare giants have somehow struggled to score on the road in their last two Champions League campaigns and yesterday they were once against exposed by LSC.

Dynamos coach Callisto Pasuwa, however, blamed the defeat on the wrong approach by his players who he said had paid the price for complacency. Pasuwa’s men came into the match with a defensive approach against hosts, who had nothing to lose and were merely playing for pride.

True to their pre-match threats, LSC threw everything at their more seasoned opponents and were duly rewarded when Thobhane Rankara, fired home from the box towards the end of the match.

A corner kick from the right by LSC saw the ball falling to their skipper — Khoto Sesinyi — who then tried to connect but his effort crashed against the up-right post. The rebound then fell to Rankara, who beat Artwell Mukandi from close range in the 84th minute.

The Lesotho champions thought they had secured another goal which was going to take the match to a nail-biting finale when Kutlosiso Ntoyana whipped in a high ball from a counter attack and Rankara headed home to beat Mukandi, making his Champions League debut for Dynamos but the goal was disallowed for offside.

Some of the Lesotho fans were already on their feet ready to celebrate but the second assistant’s flag was up. Pasuwa made a few changes to the team that played in the first leg at Rufaro as he brought in Mukandi, midfielder Stephen Alimenda and gangly striker Fransisco Zekumbawira.

But it was the home team who showed a lot of determination as they attacked with midfielder, Ralekothi Makhahlane, driving a low shot that Mukandi did well to save. The hosts LCS were not deterred as they continued probing the Dynamos goal area from all angles.

It was from LSC’s resilience that centreback Partson Jaure, was forced to handle under pressure, just on the edge of the box but Katleho Lethabela could have done better from the free-kick.

Before the match, Lesotho Correctional Service coach Mokhulu Mhoshulu had promised that they would aim to press Dynamos in their own half and hope for a breakthrough while Pasuwa had opted to take a cautious approach.

Dynamos had their own chances in the second half with Zekumbawira blowing a golden opportunity when he directed his header over the bar just two metres from an open goal.

Zekumbawira, playing only his second game for Dynamos following his arrival from Hwange, had done well to beat goalkeeper Stephen Khetsekile, who had came off his line.

In the second half, LSC came on a good run with Mokhahlane beating Thomas Magorimbo and then laying the ball for Sesinyi, who could not connect to the disappointment of the home fans.

After the match, Sesinyi saluted his teammates for “giving their best’’.

“I think we did well and I am happy with the win. Dynamos were rather defensive in this match. We had nothing to lose and we had to throw everything at them. We knew from the start that Dynamos were going to defend their lead from the first leg. They just wanted to avoid conceding two goals,” said Sesinyi.

Sesinyi reckoned that their team also gave a much improved performance than their reverse fixture at Rufaro.

“During the first leg, we did not know how Dynamos play, so we were too defensive,” said Sesinyi.

Pasuwa, who had in the build-up to the match preached against complacency, was still not amused that his charges had still carried the “wrong attitude into the match’’. “I am not happy with the result despite the fact that we have progressed to the next stage.

“There is no defeat that can make a person happy. We had been talking about attitude throughout the week but we seem to have been complacent because we had beaten them in the first leg. Lesotho Correctional Services upped their game and played better than us.

“We played with a defensive mind while LCS played better at home and we continue to struggle away. I think for first 60 minutes we played well and then made a substitution because we wanted to get a goal but they caught us off guard,” said Pasuwa.

The Dynamos coach said he will need to work on his strikers if they are to make an impression in the next stage.

“The strikers were a big let down because they were failing to hold on to the ball. Balls were coming their way but they were not keeping them,” he said. Pasuwa also hinted on getting a team psychologist to psyche up the players so that they understand the significance of every match.

Teams:

Lesotho Correctional Service: Samuel Khetsikile, Moither Ntobo, Likano Teele, Tsepo George, Poloko Mohale, Katleho Lethabela, Leita Lehloka (Khoto Sesinyi 30th min) Ralekoti Mokhahlane, Thobhane Rankara, Thulo Ranchobe, Kutlosiso Ntonyana

Dynamos: Artwell Mukandi, Gift Bello, Devon Chafa, Thomas Magorimbo, Tawanda Muparati, Augustine Mbara, Murape Murape (Cliff Sekete 75th min), Partson Jaure, Stephen Alimenda, Bogere Boban Ziruntusa(Russel Madamombe 65th min), Francesco Zekumbawira (Farai Mupasiri 65th minute).