RONALD “Rooney” Chitiyo decided a tough contest with a fabulous goal in referee’s optional time as Dynamos saw off How Mine in a Castle Lager Premiership tie at Rufaro yesterday.
BY TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA
Dynamos . . . . . . . . (0) 1 How Mine . . . . .. . . . . .0
Chitiyo latched on to a dummy by Carlos Rusere in one minute of added time after a cross from Kudzanai Nyakasaka, breached the How Mine defence before beating a drawn out goalkeeper and then side-footed the ball into an empty net.
The goal which had become stubbornly elusive despite persistent probing by the home team sent the restive Dynamos fans into wild celebrations.
But the impatient fans from the notorious Vietnam stand went over drive throwing plastic bottles on the pitch disrupting the match for a few minutes before police moved in to control the situation that appeared to be getting out of hand.
The goal took Dynamos’ points tally to 39 but still trail the log leaders Chicken Inn by four points after they overcame Highlanders 3-2 at Barbourfields.
The champions, however, struggled for fluency in a dull first half in which both teams failed to create clear chances.
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Rodreck Mutuma missed a headed opportunity from a cross by Kudzanai Nyakasaka on 36 minutes.
Takesure Chinyama had a low ground shot saved by How Mine goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya.
The visitors also had a good opportunity on 42 minutes but Kuda Musharu missed a headed opportunity.
In the second half, Chinyama also came close on 46 minutes but directed his effort wide.
Rusere and substitute Richard Kawondera who came in the second-half for Takesure Chinyama missed opportunities towards the end.
Dynamos coach Tonderai Ndiraya said afterwards he was pleased with the result, but not the performance.
“We were too slow. We didn’t get into our groove, but I am happy we kept pushing and in the end we got the result. I wasn’t really happy with the performance but I am satisfied with the result. It gives us confidence. The coming nine games are very tough and we need to up our game. We are facing FC Platinum in our next match — a team which is on a roll and this victory gives us confidence going into the match,” Ndiraya said.
Luke Masomere said they played well but were punished for lack of concentration. “We played well. It was a balanced match but unfortunately Dynamos won in the end. It happens in football. We lacked concentration at the end and we got punished. But in terms of our objective of a top seven finish, I think we are almost there. We have been changing playing personnel and as a result we have not been consistent but we hope we recover in our next match against Tsholotsho,” Masomere said.
Teams Dynamos: T Mukuruva, S Linyama, O Mwerahari, E Muroiwa, S Alimenda, C Rusere, G Murwira, K Nyakatsaka, R Chitiyo, R Mutuma (K Bulaji 91st), T Chinyama (R Kawondera 72nd)
How Mine: M Diya, T Khumbuyani, M Gutu, G Banda, N Tachi, T Masuku, H Masuku (T Muparati 96th), M Mupera, K Musharu, B Marere (M Sibanda 91st), T January
