Champions Dynamos left themselves with plenty to do in their bid to retain the league title after they were beaten by Harare City in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Rufaro Stadium yesterday.
Second half substitute Quinton Masika’s stoppage time goal wrecked Dynamos’ hopes of closing the gap on the leading pack.
The result left Dynamos on eighth position with 14 points, a massive nine points from log leaders Highlanders who travel to Motor Action on Saturday. The win did not do much for Harare City though as they remained on 12th position with 11 points.
However, they closed gap on their nearest rivals Motor Action to just three points.
Dynamos supporters mobbed club chairman Kenny Mubaiwa at the end of the match and police had to use force to disperse them.
The mob then gathered outside the stadium where they sang and chanted for the immediate sacking of coach Kalisto Pasuwa.
Pasuwa conceded his team never came to the party.
“The better side of the day won the match. We created chances, but we failed to take them and we were punished. Harare City took their chance and that’s the name of the game,” said Pasuwa.
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“The goal was a result of lack of concentration at the back. There were at least four guys who were in the box when the cross came in, but none closed down on the striker,” Pasuwa added.
Dynamos clash with Gunners at Lafarge Stadium on Sunday.
Harare City coach Bigboy Mawiwi, whose side had won once before yesterday’s result looked a very relieved man.
“I’m really excited about the result today, I’m overwhelmed,” said Mawiwi.
“We have been playing well in the previous matches it’s only that the results have not been coming. We have had too many draws which was a result of lack of experience in the squad, but the boys are looking good now,” added the former Dynamos coach.
In a game that saw midfielder Denver Mukamba red carded in the closing minutes of the match and substitute Takesure Chinyama hitting the post in optional time, Dynamos never looked like a team capable of winning the match.
City made a fast start to the match, taking the game to their more fancied opponents with former Dynamos midfielder Nathan Ziwini going close after he had been afforded too much space in the box. His goal bound effort was blocked by defender Guthrie Zhokinyi.
On the other end, Tawanda Muparati and Mukamba also had shots on target that were saved.
Dynamos goalkeeper Washington Arubi was forced to make a reaction save to deny Silas Songani in the 32nd minute. The exciting right sided midfielder had his other effort crashing against the crossbar 10 minutes later before failing from inside the six yard box in the second half.
In between, Dynamos had the chance to take a lead, but off colour strikers Rodreck Mutuma and Martin Vengesai put their efforts wide.
The two were hauled off midway through the second half and in came Takesure Chinyama and Derick Kabwe, but besides teasing the opposition and their fans with some deft touches, the duo’s contribution was also minimal.
Chinyama however hit the upright with a left footed shot in the 92nd minute and from the rebound Kabwe blazed over with a scissors kick.
From the resultant goal kick, the goalkeeper launched a long ball upfront to find Songani whose cross into the danger area was tapped in by Masika. It was the last kick of the match.
