Dynamos . . . . . . . . . 0 Chicken Inn . . . . (1) 3
BY TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA
DYNAMOS coach David Mandigora was left stunned as the defending champions suffered their first defeat of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) campaign — and the heaviest, crumbling against a well-organised Chicken Inn side in a match played at Rufaro Stadium yesterday.
The loss saw Dynamos drop from second to third spot with 14 points after Triangle hammered Harare City 3-1 at Gibbo Stadium yesterday to move into second position with 16 points.
Chicken Inn maintained top spot with 18 points.
“I think we tried our best. We dominated in the first half and created chances, but we could not score,” Mandigora said.
“Their keeper was brilliant. We never expected that result, but that’s football. We have to look ahead. We have to give credit to Chicken Inn.” Chicken Inn coach Joey Antipas said taking out the threat of Ronald Chitiyo was key to their victory.
“I think it’s a great win for us. We had problems in the first half, but we weathered the storm and got our first goal at the right time,” he said. “In the second half, we re-organised ourselves and came back stronger. Our strategy going into this match was to nullify the threat of Rooney (Chitiyo), making sure he does penetrate into the box and we managed to do that. We also wanted to make sure we penetrate their two centre-backs. We knew Sidney Linyama would not be playing.”
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After dominating the first half in which they launched wave after wave of attacks in the visitors’ goal area, DeMbare crumbled like a deck of cards when they conceded the first goal at the stroke of the first half through a goal headed by Mitchell Katsvairo off a Clement Matawu corner-kick.
Edmore Chirambadare added the second on 54 minutes with a rising shot from outside the penalty area before sealing the victory with his second goal from the spot in referee’s optional time.
The champions appeared on course for a huge victory as they bombarded their opponents’ goal with an assortment of shots in the first half in which Chicken Inn chose to sit back waiting for an opportunity to strike.
For all Dynamos’ dominance, there was, however, no end product in terms of goals, with Chicken Inn goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze denying them with several classy stops.
Oscar Machapa came close on 26 minutes after beating Thabani Goredema only to watch his effort being saved by Chipezeze.
Chitiyo was denied a headed opportunity by an alert Chipezeze from a cross by Qadr Amini 30 minutes later.
As Dynamos continued with their relentless attack, Amin broke clear of the Chicken Inn defence, but his effort drew a fine save from the keeper. However, Dynamos found themselves trailing on 45 minutes when Katsvairo headed home off a corner-kick by Matawu.
That goal appeared to unsettle Dynamos and in the second half, the visitors came back stronger, threatening with some fine raids that saw Chirambadare beating goalkeeper Artwell Mukandi with a rising shot on 54 minutes after he was allowed acres of space near the penalty area.
Chitiyo had an opportunity on 71 minutes, but misjudged a wonderful cross from the left by Dominic Chungwa.
There was a brief stoppage of the match on 81 minutes after referee Norman Matemera was injured and when play resumed, Chicken Inn had grown in confidence. As frustration appeared to take its toll on the champions who failed to come to terms with the heavy defeat, Godknows Murwira brought down Chirambadare in the penalty area in added time and the referee pointed to the spot.
Chirambadare, signed from new PSL side Tsholotsho, accepted responsibility and made no mistake from the resultant spot-kick to complete his brace.
TEAMS DYNAMOS: A Mukandi, G Murwira (K Bulaji 85th), A Mbara, E Muroiwa, O Mushure, S Alimenda, W Mukanga (M Mambare 62nd), Q Amini, O Machapa (S Nhivi 53rd), R Chitiyo, D Chungwa
CHICKEN INN: E Chipezeze, M Jackson, P Bernard, L Mhlanga, D Lunga T Goredema, C Matawu (B Juru 74th), B Ncube (G Majika 80th), T Kutinyu, E Chirambadare, M Katsvairo (M Dube 90th)
Results at a glance
Yesterday: Dynamos 0-3 Chicken Inn, Triangle 3-1 Harare City, Highlanders 0-1 Caps United, Buffaloes 2-2 Chapungu, Hwange 2-2 Dongo Sawmill
Saturday: How Mine 6-0 Whawha, ZPC Kariba 1-1 Flame Lily
Friday: FC Platinum 3-0 Tsholotsho
