Interclube . . . (1) 1 Dynamos . . . . . . 0 Zimbabwe football champions Dynamos were last night booted out of the Caf Confederation Cup when they lost their third round second leg tie to Interclube at the Estadio 22 de Junho.
The two teams played a goalless draw in Harare and Dynamos needed at least a scoring draw while the hosts had to win and they did just enough to go through to the min-league phase of the competition.
Interclube, who dominated the match for most parts, benefited from a goal that had suspicions of foul about it after provider Nary used his arms to control the ball before he found goalscorer Manucho, who looked like he had strayed into an offside position nine minutes before the break.
Nary collected the ball in the central area of the park and moved forward before he dissected the Dynamos, defence with striker Manucho finding himself with only goalkeeper Washington Arubi to beat shooting into the bottom corner.
Dynamos will feel hard done by Botswana referee Joshua Bondo, but they will also have themselves to blame for failing to play to the whistle.
Coach Kalisto Pasuwa blamed his own players albeit conceding that the referee had erred. “I always tell these boys to play to the whistle and we have suffered the consequences of players failing to play to the whistle,” said Pasuwa.
“Patson stopped, thinking the referee would blow for offside and then after that, the defenders stopped playing thinking the referee would blow for an offside on the goalscorer and Interclube made use of that chance. They got one chance and they used it. We got a few and we failed to utilise any.”
Dynamos tried to get the job done while the hosts had artistry about them, exhibiting skill and speed which the Zimbabweans found tough to contend with.
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But for all their possession which could have been as much as 65%, Interclube created few chances relying too much on wing play, whose crosses Dynamos dealt with very well.
Tawanda Muparati found some space after the ball had moved swiftly between Takesure Chinyama and Tichaona Mabvura, but he shot straight at the goalkeeper in what was probably their best chance of the match just three minutes before half time.
Interclube’s Alex gave Dynamos left- back Ocean Mushure a torrid time while Nuno troubled David Kutyauripo, who was playing as DeMbare’s right-back.
Earlier on, Nuno had evaded Kutyauripo and fired in a low cross that goalkeeper Arubi picked up well before Alex did the same on the other side with the same result a few moments later.
Dynamos struggled for fluency with striker Chinyama starved up front. He tried to bring himself into the game by dropping to collect the ball and was forced to take shots from distances too far off.
Interclube did some good work on the striker restricting him to square passes.
Interclube came close to breaking the deadlock when Alex’s shot bounced on top of the cross bar before they finally surged ahead six minutes later.
The second half had the same script as the first with the hosts monopolising ball possesion with the visitors chasing but clear chances were few.
Dynamos created the first chance of the half and it fell to their outstanding player Muparati whose shot was saved by the goalkeeper.
But then, that was just about it, as they never really threatened with Chinyama getting substituted for Martin Vengesai while Jaure made way for Arthur Kaseloki late into the game.
Just to show how Dynamos struggled to launch meaningful forays, they only won their first corner in the game 13 minute before the end.
Interclube continued to push forward spurred by a jubilant crowd, but DeMbare remained resolute at the back.
Towards the end of the second half Dynamos started to enjoy some possession yet each time the hosts were in possession they looked the more threatening.
Dynamos starting X1 Washington Arubi, David Kutyauripo, George Magariro, Guthrie Zhokinyi, Ocean Mushure, Patson Jaure, Milton Makopa, Tawanda Muparati, Tichaona Mabvura, Rodreck Mutuma and Takesure Chinyama
