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Dynamos cruise to victory

Sport
WASHINGTON Pakamisa emerged the hero again after scoring a brace as Dynamos cruised to a convincing victory over a battling Monomotapa

WASHINGTON Pakamisa emerged the hero again after scoring a brace as Dynamos cruised to a convincing victory over a battling Monomotapa in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Rufaro.

Report by Tawanda Tafirenyika

Dynamos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (3) 3 Monomotapa . . . . . . . . . . . . .(0) 0

Pakamisa has now banged in an incredible five goals in three matches — an explosive start for a player who had appeared to be now representing the past and not the future after struggling for form at city rivals Caps United last season before crossing the floor to revive his career at the champions.

It’s his second brace after also hitting a double in the drawn game against FC Platinum last Wednesday.

“He is a striker and is supposed to be scoring. He is doing well. I am happy for him,” Dynamos coach Kalisto Pasuwa said after the match.

He added: “This victory is a morale booster for the team and now we are saying let’s go out there and start collecting all points. We threw in some new faces because we had many injuries and I am impressed with their performance.”

Pasuwa fielded Abel Gwatidzo, Morris Kadzola and Clive Kawinga, who have not been playing of late. The champions went into the match in need of maximum points after they were held to a 2-2 draw by FC Platinum last week.

And they showed a lot of verve in the first half in which they were clearly the dominant side and scored all three goals inside 31 minutes.

Tawanda Muparati thrust the champions into the lead in the sixth minute following a beautiful three-man move involving Pakamisa and Boban Ziruntusa.

Pakamisa set up Ziruntusa with a cheeky back heel and the Uganda international unleashed a low shot which was spilled by goalkeeper Tapiwa Zvaita and Muparati arrived in the penalty box at the right time to bury the effort.

Pakamisa added the second on 12 minutes — chipping the ball over Zvaita following a wonderful delivery from the right by Kadzola.

Monoz also had an opportunity four minutes later, but Charles Rukwanhi’s free kick went wide off the post.

Midfielder Biserk Zvikomborero also missed a headed opportunity from a good cross by Nelson Meson on 18 minutes.

Monomotapa star midfielder Ronald Chitiyo and Clive Foroma also came close on 28 minutes, but missed target by a few centimetres.

However, Pakamisa deflated their hopes as he controlled a high ball straight from a goal kick by goalkeeper George Chigova and turned defenders Rukwanhi and Last Sithole before beating the goalkeeper with a low shot for his fifth goal of the campaign.

Pakamisa could have scored a hat-trick had he not been denied by the goalkeeper after he attempted to lob the ball over him on 35 minutes.

Three minutes later, Ziruntusa had the ball in the back of the net following a cross from the left by Muparati, only for the linesman to flag for offside.

In the second half, Biggie Zuze made some changes bringing on Praise Tonha for Biserk and soon they dominated with the outstanding Chitiyo beating his marker before delivering a cross into the danger zone, but striker Ismael Lawe was slow in reaction.

In the 59th minute, Chitiyo watched in disbelief as his bicycle kick went over the cross bar. But the champions remained resolute in defending. Pasuwa then made a double substitution bringing in young Gwatidzo and Kawinga for old legs Murape Murape and Pakamisa.

The tactical substitution nearly paid off with Gwatidzo coming close on 79 minutes.