Dynamos have remained cautious over their chances of winning the inaugural $1 million Mbada Diamonds Cup, despite accounting for one of the competition’s biggest threat in Caps United.
Caps United were joined by another giant, Highlanders, in an early exit from the country’s richest club competition.
Bosso were shocked by Zimbabwe Saints while Chicken Inn also failed at the first hurdle after going down to Kiglon.
Zimbabwe Saints will meet Kiglon in the quarter-final round slated for late October.
Motor Action kept their treble dream alive with a 2-1 win over Monomotapa at Sakubva. Blue Ribbon, who routed Shabanie Mine 4-0, will be waiting in the wings as they seek to derail the Mighty Bulls’ ambitious plan of sweeping all the trophies on offer this season.
The league champions have the BancABC trophy already in their cabinet.
Menard Mupera’s solitary goal from the penalty spot propelled FC Platinum as they beat Black Mambas in Triangle.
The moneybags will be put to the severest of tests when they engage rejuvenated Gunners in the second round of the competition. Chando Kupisa edged Masvingo United at Nyamhunga Stadium in Kariba on Sunday, thanks to a Lloyd Masakusi brace on either side of the half.
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However, there is no doubt that the biggest match of the round was the Harare derby, where Dynamos completed a record quadruple over their city rivals in a single season.
Sweden-bound Archford Gutu scored the all-important goal at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday to set up what appears on paper to be an easy quarter-final match against Shooting Stars.
The Wild Boys surprised Hwange 1-0 on Saturday with former Highlanders striker Francis Kanda scoring right at the death of the match.
Dynamos assistant coach Tonderai Ndiraya said they would not underrate their opponents.
“The journey is still very long. We have played them (Stars) before and beaten them, but this is a cup competition and it will be a different ball game altogether. It’s going to be a huge challenge for us against Shooting Stars. We might have beaten Caps United, one of the biggest clubs in the country, but there is no room to underrate anyone in a competition going forward. We will treat all the opposition the same,” said Ndiraya.
Mbada Diamonds quarter-final draw.
Kiglon v Zimbabwe Saints, Dynamos v Shooting Stars, Motor Action v Blue Ribbon, Gunners v FC Platinum.
Castle Lager Premier Soccer League weekend fixtures
Saturday: Caps United v Motor Action (National Sports Stadium), Blue Ribbon v FC Platinum (Rufaro Stadium), Black Mambas v Highlanders (Morris Depot), Gunners v Masvingo United (Larfarge), Shooting Stars v Hwange
Sunday: Zimbabwe Saints v Chicken Inn (White City Stadium), Shabanie Mine v Kiglon (Maglas), Dynamos v Monomotapa (Rufaro Stadium)
