FC Platinum…………………… 0 Dynamos……………………..(0)1
A second-half own goal by FC Platinum defender Daniel Vheremu gifted Dynamos their first Premier League win of the season away from Harare, as they beat their nearest rivals in a tense Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match played at a packed Mandava Stadium on Sunday.
Sunday’s win also saw the Harare giants topping the Premier League table for the first time this season.
This was also the first time Dynamos scored a goal away from the capital this season.
The win took Dynamos’ points tally to 55, the same number as the platinum miners, but the Harare giant assumes the top post by virtue of a superior goal difference of +4.
Dynamos will now have to beat Kiglon on Sunday at Rufaro to complete a sensational turnaround to their season as they will take the league.
As for second- placed FC Platinum, they will have to beat Shooting Stars in Harare on the same day – by a huge margin – and hope that Dynamos falter in their match.
It was a match filled with all the drama, tension and excitement characteristic of a match of this magnitude.
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The drama started when an FC Platinum official planted an unidentified object at the centre of the pitch before proceeding to spray some liquid substance at the Dynamos bench.
This stunt infuriated the Dynamos security men who shoved down the dreadlocked official before spraying their own liquid substance, to the pleasure of the Dynamos supporters who dominated the crowd that filled the stadium on Sunday.
The drama continued when the teams came off onto the pitch for a warm-up.
First to come out were the hosts, but they were pelted off by the travelling fans who used everything from water bottles to beer cans.
And when the Dynamos team went out for their warm-up, the hosts supporters retaliated, throwing missiles towards the players. By then, the tension had reached fever level and when the match finally started, players from both sides seemingly buckled under that anxiety.
After some nervous opening minutes, FC Platinum started to pass the ball around, forcing three corner kicks inside 10 minutes, which did not worry goalkeeper Washington Arubi though.
Charles Sibanda, who was lively so fa,r then let loose a left foot shot in the 12th minute that was however well smothered by an alert Arubi.
Dynamos replied moments later when Rodrick Mutuma rounded off two defenders, but surprisingly put his effort into the crowd.
Striking partner Cuthbert Malajila saw his shot well saved by Tafadzwa Dube before Denver Mukamba tried his luck from a distance, but Dube was equal to the task.
Dynamos appealed for a penalty on 42 minutes when Malajila was brought down by defender Norman Togara inside the box, but referee waved play on, seemingly making the right call.
The defining moment came when Gutu was brought down on the edge of the box. Kutyauripo flighted in a teasing free-kick which Vheremu headed into his own goal.
The final whistle brought joy to the Dynamos players and supporters who erupted into a their famous dance while Rahman Gumbo and his technical team remained rooted to their bench.
Goalkeeper Dube, who wept uncontrollably was a sorry state while assistant coach Tendai Chikuni tried to console him.
