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10-man Gunners hold Dynamos
HARARE giants Dynamos failed to beat a fi-ghting 10-man Gunners as the two sides shared the spoils in this exciting Castle Lager Premier Soccer League tie at Rufaro yesterday.
Gunners were left with 10 players after defender Ronald Sengu received a straight red card from referee Langton Chitsa in the 71st minute after he had poked Dynamos striker Martin Vengesayi in the face in an off-the-ball incident.
Gunners won a free kick in their half, but Vengesayi held on to the ball and Sengu charged towards the striker and poked him in the face.
The incident was missed by Chitsa, who was attending to the free-kick, but second assistant referee Phibeon Ngorima spotted the incident and notified the referee.
Sengu took more than three minutes to lea-ve the field, but when play resumed, Dynamos failed to take advantage of the numerical superiority.
Gunners dominated play in midfield where Elvis Meleka, Nathan Ziwini, Charles Makuruva and Wellington Kamudyariwa were in total control of the game with a fine passing game.
After going a man down, Gunners pulled almost every player back to defend and relied on counter-attacks with Leonard Tsipa playing as the lone striker.
And with a little bit of luck, Tsipa, who was introduced in the second half, could have scored after going on a powerful run in the 80th minute but found Washington Arubi on guard.
Dynamos tried to carve open the Gunners defence with Vengesayi and Patrick Khumbula getting chances but the Chando Kupisa defenders were quick to clear their lines.
Gunners were also kept in the game by impressive goalkeeper George Chigova who pulled off a couple of top drawer serves to deny Dynamos.
Dynamos were a little disappointed to lose the two points as they were still smarting from 1-0 a defeat at the hands of Zimbabwe Saints last weekend.
The Harare giants were also missing defenders Guthrie Zhokinyi and Thomas Magorimbo through injury while David Kutyauripo was serving a one-match suspension after receiving three yellow cards.
Archie Gutu is still holed up in Bulgaria while Denver Mukamba never came to the party as he played with a swollen cheek and was careful to avoid 50-50 contact.
Defensive linkman Vimbai Madamombe was second to the ball and failed to stamp any authority with fans booing him until he made way for Devon Chafa at the start of the second half. Dynamos coach Lloyd Mutasa said he was a little disappointed by failing to win the game but at he was glad that they had managed to avoid a defeat.
“Getting one point is part and parcel of football and we hope to win and get three points in the next game,” said Mutasa.
Dynamos are set to play Shabanie Mine at Maglas on Wednesday and Madambombe would have to pick up form to get a starting place.
“Madamombe was a bit slow and the Gunners youngsters were more mobile that is why we ended up pulling him out because his movement was not good,” said Mutasa.
Mutasa said his players were now beginning to tire.
“Some of the youngsters were showing signs of tiredness including Alifandika and we brought in fresh legs, but it did not give us the dimension we needed.
“But it’s a positive result to get a point after coming from a defeat although we really wanted to collect the three points,” said Mutasa.
When Gunners were down to 10 men, Muta-sa said he was hopeful that they would win but it was not to be.
“As a coach, I was hoping for a positive result.
“We were pushing forward a lot, but the final pass was not good,” said Mutasa.
Gunners coach Darlington Dodo was content with the one point although he believed they could have buried Dynamos in the first half.
Gunners were denied what looked like a penalty in the first half when the ball hit a Dynamos defender’s hand but the referee waved played on.
“Referees are not part of my team and I do not comment on them.
“I want to talk about what my team is doing because that is what give us results.
“We should have punished Dynamos in the first half but I give credit to the boys they played as a unit,” said Dodo.
Dodo believes Gunners are slowly getting positive results after they recently stunned FC Platinum 3-0 at Maglas.
“You should not take Dynamos like other small teams, as much as I am saying we were supposed to win. When you get a point against Dynamos and when we were 10 men, then it’s very positive. There were clear chances which we should have scored in the first half and I think the penalty could have been the turning point for the game,” said Dodo.
Teams
Dynamos
W. Arubi, T. Mamvura, A. Mbara, T. Muparati, N. Alifandika (R. Mutuma 78th minute), G. Bello, G. Magariro, V. Madamombe (D. Chafa 46th minute), D. Mukamba (56th minute), P. Khumbula. M. Vengesayi,
Gunners
G. Chigova, N. Ziwini, A. Chaka, I. Lawe (I. Tsipa 72nd minute), W. Kamudyariwa, E. Meleka, P. Chinungwa, H. Zvirekwi, C. Sekete, R. Sengu, C. Mukuruva.