Zimpapers Logo

Eddie Chikamhi, Harare Bureau
Dynamos  2 -1 Harare City

GIANTS Dynamos yesterday gave their fans something to cheer about when they beat Harare City at the National Sports Stadium to go three points clear at the top of the table after taking full advantage of the slip-up by their main rivals in the title race.

DeMbare had to soak the pressure from Harare City early in the game yesterday. They had a good chance against the run of play when Masimba Mambare released their top marksman Christian Joel Epoupa through the middle in the 8th minute but the Cameroonian could not beat the drawn out ’keeper Maxwell Nyamupanedengu from close range.

Mambare could have done better with the rebound but he overemphasised his effort with a chip that glided just over the bar as Nyamupanedengu and his defenders were still trying to find their footing.

Yet the Sunshine Boys continued pressing after their coach Philani Ncube threw in an attacking side that comprised Protash Kabwe, William Manondo, Grey Kufandada, Malvin Gaki and Vengesai whose pace always troubled the hosts.

But DeMbare were still the first on the scoresheet when Makaha started a move in the midfield and waited for the return pass in the box after Mambare had done brilliantly at the bye-line in the 34th minute.

Makaha, who had an impressive outing yesterday, met the ball first time and goalkeeper Nyamupanedengu was beaten by the bounce.

City though could have hit back instantly but Manondo’s sliding effort rattled the foot of the upright post after getting to the end of a cross from the right by Takudzwa Chimwemwe with the goalkeeper Tonderai Mateyaunga beaten.

And as news filtered from Bulawayo that Highlanders had taken a healthy lead over their title rivals Chicken Inn, Dynamos supporters paid homage to their bitter rivals by reciting Bosso’s signature chants. In no time, the Harare giants won a free kick on the right flank, the position that has earned them most of their goals this season through the boot of their skipper Ocean Mushure after Epoupa was brought down by Tendai Samanja.

As expected Mushure came in with a dangerous ball that Harare City defender Uchena turned into his own nets with a desperate clearance in the 67th minute.

But then Mutasa’s men, as has become their major weakness, switched off in the final moments and allowed Vengesai the space to take his shot from a tight angle three minutes into the referee’s optional time. The ball landed on the roof of the nets and DeMbare had to hold their nerves until the final whistle as the visitors tried to build on the momentum to salvage a point.

Harare City coach Philani Ncube however could not hide his disappointment with his players. Ncube said the Sunshine Boys lacked quality as they dropped into the relegation jigsaw puzzle following the defeat.

“Individually we don’t have quality but I’m happy with the way that we played, although we couldn’t convert. If we had managed to score a goal in the first half perhaps we could have been talking about a different thing altogether. But that’s football,” said Ncube.

Teams

Dynamos: T. Mateyaunga P. Makaha, O. Mushure, L. Zvasiya, M. Machazane, T. Chipunza, J. Konono, Q. Kangadze (V. Ndaba, 75th minute), C. Kapupurika (P. Dube, 70th minute), C. Epoupa, M. Mambare (T. Macheke, 64th minute)

Harare City: M. Nyamupanedengu (K. Shangiwa, 80th minute), T. Chimwemwe, P. Mpelele, H. Chapusha, T. Samanja, R. Uchena, W. Manondo, M. Gaki, P. Kabwe (P. Mpelele, 63rd minute), M. Vengesai, G. Kufandada (W. Muvirimi, 80th minute)