TRIANGLE . . . . . . . . . (0)0 DYNAMOS. . . . . . . . . . (1)2
BY KENNETH NYANGANI IN CHIREDZI
TRIANGLE head coach Kelvin Kaindu has on numerous attempts failed to overcome the Dynamos ghost even after parting ways with Highlanders for Triangle as DeMbare continued dominating him with a 2-0 win in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Gibbo Stadium yesterday.
Kaindu has never beaten Dynamos and yesterday’s defeat left the Zambian-born gaffer with more questions than answers as to what he should do to beat the league champions.
The Glamour Boys got their goals from Rodrick “The Prince” Mutuma and new signing Richard Kawondera, but remained rooted in third position, but this time with the same number of points as Triangle stay on top of them due to a superior goal difference. Chicken Inn moved to the top of the log table after convincingly beating Buffaloes 2-0 in Mutare.
DeMbare came into the match bubbling with confidence as they claim that Gibbo has become their second home. The defending champions have never lost a league match in Gibbo since Triangle started using the venue when they got promoted into the top-flight league in 2012 under Gishon Ntini.
In 2013 Dynamos scored a late equaliser to end the match on a 2-2 stalemate, while last term DeMbare won 2-1.
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Kaindu blamed sudden loss of form on the day.
“I think we were not in our usual form, but we are going to pick ourselves up in the upcoming matches. It’s the game of football, you win some you lose some,” he said.
His counterpart Tonderai Ndiraya, who has won his second league match, was a happy man.
“I think we are improving with each passing game, but we still have some grey areas we need to work on. I think the team has direction,’’ he said.
Triangle looked to unsettle Dynamos with an early goal as they bombarded the visitors’ goal area in the opening minutes of the match, but Warriors goalkeeper Tatenda Mukuruva was well positioned to save striker Tatenda Muyendi’s fine header off a Malvern Gaki cross.
Sooner than later, Dynamos were quick to realise their opponents’ statement of intent as they upped the gear, which was followed by glaring misses by strikers Takesure Chinyama and Mutuma.
The home side rearguard was caught at sixes and sevens, but they cleared off the line Chinyama’s attempt at goal before Mutuma ballooned the rebound over the bar in a clearcut chance with the hosts shot stopper Ashley Reyners at sea in the 13th minute.
The gangling Mutuma was at it again after he missed a golden opportunity after receiving a perfect cross from Ocean Mushure, but he had other ideas as he shot wide.
The Triangle defence was not in their best shape as they again gave Chinyama too much room to manoeuvre just outside their box, but the big striker’s shot was off target.
With the tempo settled into a balanced affair, it was Mutuma who took his side into the lead after beating an offside trap.
This time he made no mistake by beating the advancing Reyners with a low shot to send the travelling side’s fans into a frenzy.
It was Mutuma’s second goal in two matches after scoring in the league champions’ 2-1 win over ZPC Kariba last Sunday in the capital.
Dynamos started the second stanza on a strong footing again as they were eager to score a second goal that would put the match to rest.
Kaindu pulled out Gaki for Zambian international Antony Sakala in an injury-forced substitution in the 56th minute while Courage Denias was brought in for Hardlife Mavhundi in the 62nd minute, but the substitutions failed to engineer a goal for the home side.
However, tactical substitutions by Dynamos gaffer Ndiraya paid dividends after he brought in Kawondera, a former Triangle star, in the 65th minute for the ineffective Chinyama.
Kawondera needed just five minutes to score against his former paymasters to send DeMbare fans into delirium.
Dynamos defended with their backs in the last 20 minutes while at the same time probing their opponents’ goal area in search of a third goal.
