Dynamos edge How Mine at Barbourfields

Dynamos got the defence of their Castle Lager Premiership title off to a winning start when they edged How Mine 0-1 at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday.  An injury time own goal handed the Harare giants all three points. 

A long pass from the midfield saw veteran centre back Gilbert Banda hesitating to touch the ball only to see an alert Washington Pakamisa rushing for the ball, at the same time forcing impressive goalkeeper Donovan Bernard to move off his line in bid to narrow the angle.

Pakamisa, a 74th minute substitute for Patrick Khumbula, managed to beat the advancing national Under-20 goalkeeper but his shot appeared to be drifting off target as the ball was moving across the face of goal and in a bid to clear, an on-rushing Dube directed his clearance to an empty net, two minutes before full-time.

The goal was even more painful for the gold miners as moments earlier, Morris Kadzola had been hacked inside the box by DeMbare new-boy Themba Ndlovu but referee Philani Ncube who had a decent day in office, waved play on.

“We lost, there is nothing we could do about it. We created a number of chances but failed to score and Dynamos punished us,” said How Mine assistant coach Isheunesu Chaka.

An elated Dynamos coach Callisto Pasuwa said they rode on their luck as the match was “a game of chances’’.

“We knew that the match was going to be tough and therefore we came prepared. The pace of the match was very high and I believe it was a game of chances, they had their chances and we had ours and at the end, we got that lucky goal,” said Pasuwa.

Team Line-ups 

How Mine: D Bernard, M Kadzola, G Banda, B Dube, N Mukumbi, M Mupera, T Masuku, X Moyo, J Chitereki (H Masuku 72nd minute), K Musharu, G Nguwodzawo ( B Marere 51st minute)

Dynamos: G Chigova, O Machapa, A Mbara, S Linyama, T Ndlovu, W Mukanga (D Chafa 61st minute), S Alimenda, R Chitiyo (C Sekete 74th minute), S Sithole, P Kumbula (W Pakamisa 74th minute).