By Augustine Hwata
Harare City……………………(0) 1
Dynamos……………………….(1) 3
LIKE an experienced hunter that stalks its prey, Dynamos have been stealthily moving towards the top of the log and for the first time this season, the Harare giants shot to the summit of the Castle Lager Premiership after recording a comfortable victory over Harare City at Rufaro yesterday.
It appears the 4-3 penalty shootout defeat against Shabanie Mine in the BancABC Sup8r semi-final was the tonic needed to spur Dynamos to their biggest victory over Harare City since the Sunshine Boys made an entry in the elite league last season.
Harare City had won the first meeting between the two sides when Quinton Masika struck in the 88th minute but Ocean Mushure gave Dynamos the three points in the reverse fixture last year, while their clash in the first half of this season had ended in a goalless draw.
The game yesterday was not as exhilarating as the previous encounters but it covered up by the handful of goals and a red card to Harare City defender Crispen Dickson.
Dynamos showed that they meant business when Ugandan international Boban Ziruntusa struck his first league goal for DeMbare after heading home the opener in the fourth minute.
Ziruntusa’s only goal for Dynamos had come during the preliminary round of the African Champions League against Lesotho Correctional Services in February, at the same venue.
Winger Cliff Sekete sent a high ball into the box and Zituntusa, who was unmarked, placed the ball past Muzondiwa Gonese when some fans had barely taken their seats and some players had barely had a feel of the match ball.
That early goal gave Dynamos the confidence to venture into the Harare City box as the Sunshine Boys were forced to chase the game early in the match and DeMbare increased the lead five minutes into the second half when Russell Madamombe drilled the ball home to stretch the lead.
Sekeke created space on the right flank and then whipped a high ball that Tawanda Muparati headed into the path of Madamombe to convert soon after the break.
Harare City coach Bigboy Mawiwi then introduced the speedy Martin Vengesayi for Edgar Tapera while Phineas Bamusi made room for William Munondo in the 54th minute as Dynamos pulled out Washington Pakamisa, who was missing for fun.
There was a brief moment of life for Harare City in the 71st minute when Osborne Mukuradare connected a cross from Vengesayi and suddenly the match was now on a cliffhanger as City were now fired up and threatening to draw level.
However, Harare City were their worst enemies in their comeback bid when defender Dickson earned a straight red for elbowing Clive Kawinga in an off-the-ball incident in the 73rd minute.
Referee Ruzive Ruzive missed the incident but after consulting with his second assistant he ejected Dickson from the match, further denting the little hopes of a fightback by Harare City.
Madamombe thought he had struck a brace when he beat Gonese after an assist from Sydney Linyama but Ruzive ruled the effort out for off-side but there was no denying Dynamos their biggest victory in the top of the table clash when Kawinga robbed James Jam inside the box to riffle home in the 89th minute.
For his folly celebration of removing his shirt, Kawinga earned a yellow card and his coach Pasuwa was not amused.
The win pushed Dynamos to the top of the log for the first time this season because of a superior goal difference over Harare City, who were at the apex before the Round 20 matches.
Pasuwa, who had challenged his troops to beat Harare City and take control of their destiny in the league, was naturally pleased with the win but reprimanded Kawinga for the silly booking he earned moments after scoring.
“We needed this victory after our defeat against Shabanie Mine in the BancABc Sup8r Trophy. We needed the defeat maybe to psyche up the guys in the coming games,” Pasuwa said.
Pasuwa thrust Magorimbo in place of Devon Chafa who has been suspended by Fifa for 30 days after testing positive for a prohibited substance during a World Cup qualifier in June.
“I think we were very compact in midfield where we had three central guys who were moving around and we dominated play when we did not have the ball and while when in possession we were using Madamombe and Sekete on the wings,” said Pasuwa.
Magorimbo played as the defensive midfielder while Ziruntusa and the usually reliable Tawanda Muparati were either creative while in possession or dangerous on their breaks and the skipper was unlucky not to record his name on the scoresheet.
“We were pressing with three guys in front and building up from there. This means we never allowed them to build up from the back when they wanted to attack us.
“The goal came early in the match and considering that we have not been scoring many goals, it was a motivating factor for us,” said Pasuwa.
Pasuwa, who is also the Warriors assistant coach, said Magorimbo did well in Chafa’s place and hoped they will continue to use him in the next games.
Harare City had their moments in the game with Nathan Ziwini and Silas Songani causing anxious moments for Dynamos and will probably look back at the red card as the turning point.
“I was a bit worried when Harare City pulled one back. We played against Shabanie and dominated much of the game but they equalised and I was of the belief that Harare City were also capable, but we told the guys to keep their composure,” said Pasuwa.
Pasuwa said Kawinga will be fined for removing his shirt. Despite the defeat Mawiwi remained hopeful that his charges will bounce back.
“We have one of the best defences in the league but when we concede early in the match when playing Dynamos, then it’s always difficult to come back.
“There was lack of concentration when that ball was played in and there was sloppy marking. Our approach to the game was poor, but I think we fought hard and we were let down by our link which is usually strong,” said Mawiwi.
Harare City usually thrive on a mobile midfield that knocks the ball around when going forward but Songani and Ziwini were given little room to breathe yesterday.
“I don’t know what happened to our link. We did not play our usual game and maybe it was due to the break, but we will re-group and bounce back. We should work on the weaknesses and we are still tied at the top with Dynamos,” said Mawiwi.
Mawiwi said he was a little surprised that Ruzive has now handled Harare City’s last three matches against Dynamos.
“Coincidently for the referee today (Ruzive), this was the third match he has been assigned for us against Dynamos, but I’m not taking anything away from him but we need to change the match officials.
“During the first round this year, we scored a clear goal which was disallowed and today when Silas (Songani) was tackled (by Mushure) I thought that was a red card,” Mawiwi said .
And in what is becoming a sickening trend, a Dynamos fan threw a bottle of urine at Mawiwi towards the end of the second half.
Teams:
Harare City: M. Gonese, J. Madora, E. Tapera (M. Vengesayi 54th min), W. Nyamutsaka, D. Crispen, W. Manondo ((P. Bamusi 54th min), J. Jam, O. Mukuradare (C. Muvuti 76th min),N. Ziwini, S. Songani, T. Chiworeso
Dynamos: G. Chigova, O. Machapa, O. Mushure (S. Linyama 77th min), G. Bello. P. Jaure, C. Sekete (F. Mupasiri 85th min), B. Ziruntusa, W. Pakamisa, R. Madamombe, T. Muparati, T.Magorimbo (C. Kawinga 60th min)
