Dynamos . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 2 Motor Action . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
Dynamos kept their title aspirations alive after securing a crucial victory over defending champions Motor Action in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Rufaro Stadium yesterday.
The Harare giants, who initially struggled to get into the grove, opened the scoring just after the half hour mark courtesy of a ferocious left-footed shot from winger Denver Mukamba.
Gangly striker Roderick Mutuma headed home the second goal five minutes into the second half after connecting a pinpoint cross from Augustine Mbara at the near post.
Yesterday’s victory, which was sweet revenge for Dynamos who lost through an identical scoreline to the same team in April, saw Calisto Pasuwa’s men maintain the pressure on log leaders FC Platinum who maintained their three-point advantage with two matches remaining.
Motor Action dropped to third position after stretching their winless run to nine matches dating back to the 1-0 win over Highlanders in August.
An elated Pasuwa said the title race was still on and added that the top-of-the-table clash at Mandava Stadium on Sunday would be the title decider.
“I think the guys played well. We converted our chances and didn’t concede. This was a crucial game and at this stage of the season collecting three points is the main aim no matter how badly we play.
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Obviously, we didn’t have a good start, but we slowly came back into the game and we managed to create the chances we needed.”
Asked how his team would approach the potential title decider against FC Platinum at Mandava on Sunday, Pasuwa said: “It’s going to be a tough game as it will have a strong bearing on the championship.
FC Platinum are playing well, so we will give the match the seriousness it deserves,” said Pasuwa. Motor Action gaffer Joey Antipas rightly admitted his team’s title’s aspirants were all but over and said his team’s focus would now be on finishing in the top four.
“Our title chances are now basically over and our focus is making sure we finish in the top four and also doing well in the Cup final. Dynamos were clearly the better team. They played well throughout the match and dominated us in midfield. We just gave them too much space which allowed them to put us under pressure,” said Antipas.
Dynamos initially struggled to settle into their free-flowing football as the Motor Action midfielders seemed determined to close in on their opponents in midfield.
However, the Mighty Bulls were never an threat, with their main force Allen Gahadzikwa clearly out of the game while Kuda Musharu and Tawanda Ushe were starved of clean balls.
With their defence hardly threatened, Dynamos began to dominate the exchanges with Archford Gutu and Denver Mukamba dominating the exchanges which eventually yielded the first goal.
Right-back Thomas Magorimbo surged forward before releasing skipper Cuthbert Malajila, who with his back to goal used his sheer power to shrug off the challenges from Norman Njelele and Temba Ndlovu.
Realising he had drawn most of the Motor Action defenders, Malajila released an onrushing Mukamba who released a cracking left-footed shot which sailed past the veteran Motor Action goalie Marlon Jani.
Ndlovu might have been found wanting when he allowed Malajila time to release Mukamba, but deep into injury time in the first half, he produced a wonderful last ditch tackle to deny Mutuma who had come face-to-face with Jani.
Pasuwa’s men were duly rewarded in the 50th minute when Mukamba and Augustine Mbara exchanged some delightful passes on the left resulting in the latter releasing a pin-point cross which was headed home by Mutuma at the near post.
