DYNAMOS . . . . . . . . . 0
TRIANGLE . . . . . . . . .0
HARARE giants Dynamos and fellow strugglers Triangle played out a goalless draw in a tense relegation dogfight at Rufaro Stadium yesterday.
It was a result that did little to ease the nerves of either side, with only six matches left in the season.
The stalemate leaves both teams squarely in the thick of the relegation battle, with the fate of three other teams joining already demoted Kwekwe United still hanging in the balance.
Dynamos, who had been on a four-match winning streak, move up one place to 16th with 29 points from 28 matches, leapfrogging Green Fuel.
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Triangle also edged up the ladder, now in 12th place with 32 points from 28 matches.
The congested bottom half of the table is a pressure cooker, with just five points separating 17th-placed Green Fuel (28 points) and 9th-placed Highlanders (33 points).
The match was a story of missed opportunities, particularly for Triangle in the first half.
Dynamos had the first real chance when a free kick from Abel Gwatidzo was tipped onto the crossbar by the impressive Triangle goalkeeper Takudzwa Chikosi.
With Triangle finishing the first half stronger, Dynamos goalkeeper Prince Tafiremutsa was called into action early, smartly saving a close-range shot from Aaron Zeka and a long-range effort from Praise Machengete.
After the break, Dynamos coach Kelvin Kaindu’s tactical changes shifted the momentum.
The introduction of the eccentric forward Denver Mukamba revitalised the home side, as he created several chances from free kicks, all of which were expertly saved by Chikosi.
The hosts had the best chance of the second half when substitute Enasio Perezo Jr was played through by Mukamba, but his effort was again denied by Chikosi in the final minute of regulation time.
Dynamos coach Kelvin Kaindu acknowledged the difficulty of the game and the importance of the single point.
“It’s a point that we fought for,” he said.
“We have dropped two points and a victory for us would have made us move away from the position that we have occupied for so many days.
“For me, I feel it’s a vital point that we have gained today.”
Meanwhile, Triangle coach Genesis Mangombe lamented his team’s lack of clinical finishing.
“We’ll take that point, but when you’re in the relegation zone, you need to maximise,” he said.
“We created several chances [in the first half], but we were not so clinical.
“We should have buried [them] and made sure that we are out of the relegation zone.”
Teams
Dynamos: P Tafiremutsa, E Jalai, A Gwatidzo, M Issaka, S Nyahwa, T Chiwunga (D Mukamba, 50’), V Ngwenya (R Chingwara, 64’), T Magwaza, W Mutasa (E Perezo Jr, 46’), J Kasondo (F Hammond, 81’), L Mavunga (K Madera, 64’)
Triangle: T Chikosi, J Padera, A Mawadza, P Machengete, N Chinyengetere (J Munsaka, 85’), T Kamusoko (K Kanganga, 75’), M Bamara, A Zeka (B Sarupinda, 75’), A Hofisi (A Sadiki 46’), T Chatuluka, W Shave (M Mudzimu, 75’)