Dynamos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2) 3 Gunners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 MBADA Diamonds Cup defending champions made a huge stride towards their cup defence when they walloped a hapless Gunners in the quarter-finals of the knockout football competition at Baghdad Stadium in Kwekwe yesterday.
Report by Ephraim Shoko, Kwekwe
Impressive midfielder Denver Mukamba led the rout with a goal in each half while Moses Muchenje scored an own goal as Dynamos cruised to the semis where they will meet FC Platinum.
The two teams met at the same stage of the competition last year with Dynamos coming out victorious.
Dynamos came off the blocks flying and could have taken the lead as early as the sixth minute when Mukamba roasted Pardon Chinungwa on the left before checking in and unleashing a powerful drive that goalkeeper Clayton Dombo punched away for a corner.
Mukamba, the outstanding player on the field by far, came back to haunt Gunners in the 13th minute.
This time he didn’t miss the target though. The skilful midfielder made his trademark run on the left channel and appeared to be crossing the ball for on-rushing teammates, but picked the near post to beat Dombo, who could only help the shot into his own nets.
Gunners spent much of the first half back-pedalling as Dynamos kept on piling pressure with the impressive Mukamba virtually unplayable.
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With the first-half break impending, it looked like Dynamos would go for oranges leading by a single goal. But the Harare giants had other ideas.
With the first half deep into stoppage time, Dynamos left-back Ocean Mushure galloped forward before flighting a perfectly weighted cross that Muchenje turned into his own nets as the defender tried to clear his lines.
Gunners coach Moses Chunga made a double substitution at half-time, introducing left winger Valentine Ndaba and Moses Demera for Ellenmore Rappozzoh and Blessing Sande.
The changes brought some urgency in Gunners who for a moment took grip of the match and looked the likeliest team to score next, but the final ball was disappointing.
With Gunners spurning every chance that came their way, Dynamos took advantage to score the third that effectively killed off the contest. Substitute Rodreck Mutuma, who had came in for Simba Sithole, beat Munyaradzi Kunyarimwe for pace to set up an unmarked Mukamba for an easy tap-in beyond the diving Dombo.
Gunners had their chance for a consolation near the end when Justice Jangano unleashed a shot from some 30 metres out, but Dynamos goalkeeper George Chigova tipped the effort over for a corner kick.
Despite the frantic finish by Gunners, Dynamos had done the damage with Mukamba the chief destroyer. For his sterling performance yesterday, the Warriors man got $500 from Mbada Diamonds.
Dynamos coach Kalisto Pasuwa praised his charges for a wonderful display.
“I’m happy that we managed to win this match. The guys did well and I hope they will keep doing so that we can get to the final and defend the cup,” said Pasuwa.
Gunners coach Moses Chunga blamed the loss on the poor surface of Baghdad.
“We started the match well, but we were unfortunate to concede two soft goals. We struggled in the soyabean field considering that we play a passing game. Dynamos coped well in the field because they were playing high balls.”
Teams
Dynamos: G Chigova, P Jaure, O Mushure, G Bello, T Magorimbo, D Chafa, T Muparati, D Mukamba (A Kaseloki, 80mins), F Mupasiri, C Sekete (T Mabvura, 59mins), S Sithole (R Mutuma, 65mins). Gunners: C Dombo, P Chinungwa, W Kamudyariwa, M Muchenje, I Lawe, W Gondo (A Gwatidzo, 79mins), J Jangano, B Sande (M Demera, 46mins), T Dephstara, E Rappozzoh (V Ndaba, 46mins), M Kunyarimwe.
