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AN impressive Dynamos infused a new breath of life into their sickly Castle Lager Premier Soccer League campaign with a five-star performance that crushed Masvingo United, ending Yuna Yuna’s unbeaten run, at Rufaro yesterday.
The Harare giants, who have been struggling in front of goal, finally got their forward line firing on all cylinders with a five-goal harvest on the afternoon.
It could have been more, if they had taken all their chances, with Nicholas Alifandika and the impressive Archford Gutu missing gilt-edged chances towards the end.
Striker Rodrick Mutuma ended his barren spell in the league with a brace and goals from David Kutyauripo (penalty), crowd-favourite Denver Mukamba and substitute Martin Vengesai relieved pressure from Lloyd Mutasa’s men who had won only once in their first five matches.
Substitute Welcome Ndiweni fired home the consolation, drilling home a beauty from distance that gave Washington Arubi no chance, for Masvingo five minutes into added time, but it was a little too late to repair the damage.
The victory lifted DeMbare from the bottom half to eighth on the log table with eight points from six games.
Assistant coach Tichaona Diya was excited by the big victory and said the team will remain focused despite the challenges they faced early in the season.
“I must say we played very well because we came into this match looking for goals and we scored many.
“We haven’t been doing quite well in our previous match and I think it’s normal that any team goes through a bad patch in football.
“But I am happy we managed to bounce back to our winning ways.
“This should be the turning point in our campaign and we hope to continue with the form in our next matches,” said Diya.
DeMbare dominated their opponents in all departments and could have won by a bigger margin had they been more accurate in front of goal.
Masvingo United goalkeeper Wonder Peperere denied Dynamos in the 10th minute when he tipped Alifandika’s header over the crossbar from a high ball whipped in from the right channel by Kutyauripo.
The influence of Gutu and Mukamba always gave their opponents a difficult time in the middle of the park and the duo played a crucial part in Dynamos’ raids.
Their persistence was rewarded in the 27th minute when referee Norman Matemera adjudged that Mukamba was fouled inside the box by defender Philip Chandisaita who made a clumsy tackle in a tussle for possession.
It looked harsh on Masvingo United but only their travelling fans, massed on the Northern Stand, cried for them.
Dynamos didn’t care and Kutyauripo stepped up and put his club ahead from the spot.
His celebrated the goal with a mock call to his team’s management that he needed his money, now that he had delivered for the club, as Dynamos struggle to settle their players’ salary bill.
Interestingly, while Dynamos remain weighed down by financial challenges, thousands of fans were trapped outside Rufaro yesterday, with just a few gates open, and many of then decided to return home.
Mukamba doubled his team’s lead in the 36th minute when he controlled the ball, just outside the box, and fired a fierce grounder that gave Peperere no chance.
Dynamos continued to pile the pressure and Gutu could count himself unlucky after his effort was blocked by the goalkeeper two minutes later and defender Venganayi Sinamayi rushed to clear from the line.
But Dynamos immediately stretched their lead when Mutuma tapped in the third goal in the 38th minute after receiving a good pass from the impressive Augustine Mbara.
Masvingo United striker Johnson Zimbabe thought he had reduced the arrears in the 44th minute but his effort was disallowed for off-side. The visitors also had a genuine appeal for a penalty that was turned down.
Arubi then smothered a powerful free-kick by Pevington Zimunya 10 minutes after the restart to maintain DeMbare’s healthy cushion.
Mutuma, who had earlier blazed over from just about three metres out, completed his brace at the hour mark when he headed home cross from the left flank, with Mbara the provider again. But the Dynamos striker caused a 16-minute stoppage after he broke the corner flag as he celebrated wildly.
He was booked for that.
There were fears that the match could be abandoned, to be played another day, as officials battled to find a replacement corner flag.
After about 16 minutes, one was found and play resumed. Ndiweni pulled one back for Masvingo when his rising shot found the top corner.
But second half substitute Vengesai scored Dynamos’ fifth at the death after referee Matemera had added 16 minutes to compensate for the stoppage. The goal, which came 106 minutes after the start of the game, could have set a new record for the Premiership.
Masvingo coach Luke “Vahombe” Masomere conceded defeat and blamed the loss on the pedestrian approach to the game by his players.
He also felt that the penalty was the turning point and believes Dynamos were a lucky lot to get the spot kick.
Masvingo had not lost a game this season after winning two and drawing three.
The defeat however did not affect their position on the table as they remained seventh with nine points from five starts.
“To me the first goal was not genuine but I should not be complaining about that because we were well beaten.
“Even if we are to take that goal away, Dynamos were clearly the better team.
“They were more organised than us and we just didn’t do well.
“Our approach was wrong and probably it was because of complacency.
“There was no way we were going to win that match because of our attitude and this should be a wake-up call to our players,” said Masomere.
Teams:
Dynamos
W. Arubi, D. Kutyauripo, A. Mbara, G. Bello, G. Magariro, V. Madamombe, D. Mukamba (W. Kupera 80th minute), N. Alifandika (T. Muparati 93rd minute), F. Vimisayi, R. Mutuma (M. Vengesai 88th minute)
Masvingo
W. Peperere, P. Zimunya, V. Sinamayi, W. Mukanga, J. Zimbabe, T. Jaricha (H. Mavhundi 45th minute), S. Muchabaya, P. Sinamayi, B. Mazorodze (W. Ndiweni 45th minute), T. Nyamadzawo (E. Dzumbunu 78th minute), P. Chandisaita.