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Eddie Chikamhi, Zimpapers Sports Hub

Dynamos 2-0 FC Platinum

FC Platinum’s dream in this year’s Castle Lager Premiership race virtually ended yesterday after they were put to the sword by giants Dynamos at Rufaro.

Playing 24 hours after their rivals in the title race Simba Bhora had extended the gap at the top to nine points, the platinum miners looked to hurry things up in search of early goals, but that was to be their downfall.

At the end of the day, goals from Emmanuel Ziocha and DeMbare man-of-the moment Valentine Kadonzvo in a two-minute blitz in the first-half, decided FC Platinum’s fate. 

Dynamos coach Lloyd Chigowe said they had done enough homework ahead of the game as they knew FC Platinum would be under pressure to score goals and win in order to keep pace with Simba Bhora, who now need a single point from the remaining three games to wrap up their maiden league title.

“We knew that FC Platinum would always come guns blazing,” said Chigowe.

“So, we allowed them to come forward and then we hit them on the counter and for sure we hit them. 

“We feel we could have done that on three or four occasions. But in the end, we played tactically good football, managed to absorb the pressure and lasted the distance, which was key for us,” said Chigowe. 

Unlike FC Platinum, who still had plausible chances of fighting for this year’s gong, Dynamos have nothing much to play for except pride and a possible top-four finish. The win yesterday took them to seventh place with 44 points, 10 points behind the platinum miners. 

FC Platinum coach, Norman Mapeza yesterday knew it was a done deal after seeing his side going down unexpectedly. The platinum miners enjoyed much of the ball early on and midfielder Hagiazo Magaya came close after reacting to a low cross from the left channel by connecting a thunderous first time low shot that narrowly missed the target. 

And after fluffing a couple of good chances, the Zvishavane side was made to pay dearly when DeMbare scored in a quick counter-attack blitz that yielded two goals inside two minutes.

The platinum miners were caught unawares in the 21st minute when DeMbare made a quick break via the right flank.

Mapeza’s men messed up a free-kick inside the hosts’ half and, in a flash, DeMbare were already asking questions in their penalty box with goalkeeper David Bizabani badly exposed. Ziocha then fired home at the near post after an exchange with Donald Mudadi, as the platinum miners made desperate attempts to thwart the raid.

Before the visitors could re-organise themselves, DeMbare were back on the offensive with another counter-attack as utility man Freddy Alick, who had a good game in the right back position, raced down the right channel and spotted Kadonzvo rushing in from wide left.

Kadonzvo made no mistake when he blasted the second goal from the back post to ignite wild scenes of frenzy in the terraces.

The platinum miners never recovered from the double blow despite coach Mapeza changing the formation in the second-half from a three-man defence to a flat-four to plug the holes that were exposed by the DeMbare wingers. 

Kadonzvo could have added to his tally after benefiting from a through pass from Mudadi shortly after the restart but the DeMbare winger suffered indecision before the keeper Bizabani clipped him down in a one-one-one situation. 

Chigowe heaped praises on his players after the match. 

“This team has great potential if well-managed and, I think if all their welfare issues are attended to, and they don’t have any issues, I think they can go great guns against any side in this country. You can see even the run that  they had in the Confederation Cup, it proved that the performance today was not a fluke,” said Chigowe.

Mapeza conceded they had a bad day by going to sleep in those two key moments that they let in goals. The platinum miners failed to test the young Dynamos goalkeeper Tatenda Makoni who on occasions looked jittery after being handed the task in such a big game.

“We started well but we gave away two soft goals,” he said. 

“The first goal was a result of a mix-up from the set-piece and from that set-piece we ended up conceding.

“The second goal was more of the same, pushing up and the offside trap wasn’t on. I think those were the only two moments that made us lose the game.’ 

Teams:

Dynamos: Tatenda Makoni, Freddy Alick, Donald Dzvinyai, Shadreck Nyahwa, Frank Makarati, Kelvin Moyo, Frederick Ansa-Botchway (N. Chinyerere, 74th min), Valentine Kadonzvo (E. Paga, 63rd min), Tanaka Shandirwa (T. Chiwunga, 74th min), Emmanuel Ziocha (I. Sadiki, 84th min) Donald Mudadi (A. Musiiwa, 84th min),

FC Platinum: David Bizabani, Bothwell Nzori, Mbongeni Ndlovu, Rainsome Pavari, Hagiazo Magaya, Devine Mhindirira, (A. Chirinda, 86th min), Juan Mutudza (S. Mhlanga, 61st min), Davison Marowa (B. Kusinyera, 61st min), Polyester Shoko (K. Mangiza, 46th min), Oscar Bhebhe (J. Selemani, 40th min), Panashe Mutimbanyoka