By Eddie Chikamhi
CAPS United . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 1
Dynamos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 1
CAPS United coach Taurai Mangwiro believes they still have unfinished business with rivals Dynamos after the first instalment of the back-to-back Harare Derby failed to produce a winner at the National Sports Stadium yesterday.
Mangwiro and his opposite number Callisto Pasuwa arrived just on time for the big game after missing their teams’ last assignments while attending the Caf A Licence coaching course.
Although disappointed that they failed to break the winless jinx against Dynamos which now spans five years in the league competition, Mangwiro felt they had a better chance of claiming victory over their opponents yesterday despite having to come back from a first half deficit.
Dynamos captain Murape Murape gave the defending champions the lead when he scored from inside the box with a beautiful rising shot 26 minutes into the game, but Malawian midfielder Gerald Phiri restored parity a few minutes after the restart.
The goal, which came direct from a free-kick in the 56th minute, just four minutes after the Malawian was introduced as replacement for Moses Muchenje, appeared to have revitalised the Green Machine as they raised their game after playing second fiddle to Dynamos in the opening half.
“I still want to believe that we had a very good chance to get all the three points but we could not. I thought we came back the stronger team in the second half and we created some scoring opportunities.
“Unfortunately the conversion was not there but at least we rescued a point and now we have a team that could fight to the bitter end.
“It’s unlike in the previous season where we could not find our way back into the game after succumbing to a goal. So I am happy to have got the point although I still feel that we could have got the three points,” said Mangwiro.
DeMbare started strongly with the psychological edge of having beaten their rivals in the last six league encounters since 2011. The last time CAPS United claimed a point in the Harare Derby was in 2010 when the teams played a goalless draw at Rufaro.
In fact, CAPS United have not beaten Dynamos in a league match since April 2009 when Nyasha Mushekwi grabbed a double to lead the side to a comfortable 2-0 win.
But CAPS United have been experiencing a renaissance under Mangwiro.
They had to dig deep yesterday after veteran Murape gave Dynamos the advantage midway through the first half.
DeMbare could have taken the lead earlier when youthful Blessing Moyo did well with a cross into the box which striker Roderick Mutuma could not direct into the nets in the 12th minute. Then Devon Chafa crashed the follow up shot against the upright as the CAPS United defenders frantically tried to clear their lines.
But skipper Tapiwa Kumbuyani, Hardlife Zvirekwi and Leonard Fiyado always gave Makepekepe the firepower they needed going forward and with a bit of luck they could have surged ahead first.
Pervington Zimunya twice had the opportunity to put them in the driving seat but he could not utilise the chances. Zimunya failed to do justice to brilliant work by Fiyado in the 18th minute when the former Gunners man beat his markers on the right and threaded a neat pass into the box.
But Zimunya’s balance failed him as he failed to control the ball. A few minutes later he was again at the end of another pass from Fiyado and his shot meant for the near post could not beat goalkeeper Artwell Mukandi.
DeMbare’s defence looked suspicious at times with Mukandi looking jittery especially after he conceded from the free-kick taken from a distance by Phiri in the second half.
Phiri changed the complexion of the game as he made crucial moves in midfield. But there was nothing the goalkeeper Joram Muchambo could have done earlier on to deny Murape his goal. The diminutive midfielder rushed into the box and shot first time following a half clearance by the Makepekepe defenders to break a nice exchange between Ronald Chitiyo and Mutuma.
Mutuma and Washington Pakamisa also had good opportunities to get their names on the scoresheet but they lacked precision in front of goal.
Dynamos coach Pasuwa said they failed to take their chances and will need to go back to the drawing board and plan for the return leg of the derby in their next assignment.
“Most of the times we were second to the ball and we should have to work on that. We are getting into the 18-yard box but we are missing so many chances. We have to go and do our homework.
“The fact that we came up with a draw, it’s okay to the team. We are still in the race. Maybe next time we will perform better.
“It’s a game of cancelling each other. They have seen our weaknesses and we have seen theirs as well. So we have to go back and work (hard),” said Pasuwa.
Teams
CAPS United: J. Muchambo, T. Khumbuyani, D. Chipala, S. Makatuka, R. Pfumbidzai, T. Samanja, M. Muchenje (Phiri, 52nd minute), H. Zvirekwi, P . Zimunya (Thindwa, 90th minute), L. Fiyado (Mukandi, 81st minute), D. Chungwa
Dynamos: A. Mukandi, B. Moyo, O. Mushure, P. Jaure, T. Ndlovu, S. Alimenda, D. Chafa (Machapa, 85th minute), R. Chitiyo, M. Murape (Sekete, 66th minute), R. Mutuma, W. Pakamisa. The Herald
