DYNAMOS . . . . . . (0) 2 CAPS UNITED . . . . (1)1
HENRY MHARA
THE Harare derby lived up to its billing at the National Sports Stadium yesterday, and incredibly, Dynamos once again claimed the bragging rights for the fifth year running.
Caps United completely dominated the first half and went to the break leading one-nil through a Tendai Samanja rocket. But they could have scored at least four in the half in which they totally overran their opponents.
Then Dynamos came back and responded with two to seal a memorable win, thanks to a sublime Washington Pakamisa scissors kick and a smashing effort by substitute Russell Madamombe.
It was a second win for the league champions over their number one rival in a space of seven days, following their 1-0 win in the One Wallet Cup quarter-final last week.
While the match was fascinating, the post-match comments were equally interesting. Dynamos coach Kalisto Pasuwa congratulated Caps United for scoring their first ever goal against his side since he took over the reins three years ago.
“I’m happy for them (Caps United) in that they scored a goal in open play against us which is a plus sign for them. But it was a bad sign for our team as players thought they had beaten Caps already before the match and it made us to trail in the first 45 minutes. We let them play in the first half, we were always second to the ball and we had to talk to the (players) at halftime and in the second half they came good,” said Pasuwa.
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For Caps United, it appeared as if they fielded two different teams in the two halves. One that played extremely well in the first stanza and the other that was absolutely horrible in the second half.
“Very disappointed I must say,” Caps United coach Taurai Mangwiro as he kicked off his post-match interview. “I thought we had done enough to deserve victory, but two different teams we had – the one that played in the first half and the one that played in the second half. Perhaps we were our own enemies in not playing in the second half.
“We thought perhaps we will be able to defend our lead, but a few minutes into the second half we conceded and at a time when we thought we would regroup, they scored the second goal. I just don’t know if it’s a curse or what because we could have killed the game as a contest in the first half,” concluded Mangwiro.
With injuries to his regular centrebacks, Mangwiro started with a makeshift backline of George Nyirenda and Carlton Muzambwa while Hardlife Zvirekwi was pushed back to cover up for the injured Tapiwa Kumbuyani at right back. Dominic Chungwa recovered from an injury to start upfront. Dynamos’ line-up was predictable, with the only changes at the left back position where Thomas Magorimbo started in place of the injured Ocean Mushure while Tafadzwa Rusike started ahead of Madamombe. After a settling-in period for the first five minutes or so, Caps really went for it with an enthralling display of dynamic wing play and direct attacking football with the new acquisitions Nicholas Alifandika and Honey Chimutimunzeve central in those raids.
Caps were moving the ball quickly and in the eighth minute, they were in the lead, Samanja smashing home after the Dynamos defence failed to clear an Alifandika corner. Chances continued to fall for the Green Machine, Dominic Mukandi’s angled shot was parried by Artwell Mukandi and flew across the face of goal on 16th minute.
Rodreck Mutuma made some good work on the right, leaving two defenders in his wake, but his cross was directed straight to Caps United goalie Jorum Muchambo by Pakamisa. Dominic Chungwa hit the upright for Caps United five minutes from the break with a header from yet another Alifandika cross as Caps pushed for the killer goal.
Dynamos were rocking with their defence in shambles – Themba Ndhlovu was looking jittery, and young Blessing Moyo was making unforced errors. Hardman Stephen Alimenda was clearly failing to cope with the speed of the game.
It was Dynamos though who had the two last chances of the first half, Mutuma screwed his effort wide while Moyo blasted over from long range. Halftime score was 1-0, but it could easily have been 4-0 had Caps United utilised all their chances. But if there is one thing that sets Dynamos apart from the rest of the teams in the league, it is their never-say-die attitude.
On 55 minutes, they equalised and deservedly so. Pakamisa brought down a long ball from the midfield, and with his back at goal and closely monitored by a defender, he somehow managed to execute a scissors kick that surprised the badly positioned Muchambo.
On 69th minute, Pasuwa made his second change of the game, bringing on Madamombe for Rusike, and the former Monomotapa winger’s impact was immediate. Just two minutes from coming on, he smashed Dynamos in front from inside the box.
Chitiyo collected a pass from deep and exploited the space in front of him before releasing a shot that the defence managed to block, but from the rebound, Madamombe smashed it home first time.
TEAMS DYNAMOS: A Mukandi, B Moyo, T Magorimbo, A Mbara, T Ndlovu, S Alimenda, R Chitiyo, T Rusike (Madamombe, 69th min), M Murape (S Sithole, 60th min), R Mutuma, W Pakamisa (F Mbimba, 80th min) CAPS UNITED: J Muchambo, H Zvirekwi, C Muzambwa, G Nyirenda, R Pfumbidzai, D Mukandi, T Samanja, M Muchenje (G Phiri, 56th min), N Alifandika (K Bulaji, 87th min), H Chimutimunzeve, D Chungwa
