DYNAMOS goalkeeper Tatenda Mukuruva emerged the hero as he served two penalties in a shootout to help guide his side to the semi-finals of the Chibuku Super Cup at the expense of defending champions FC Platinum at the National Sports Stadium yesterday.
DYNAMOS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 FC PLATINUM . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 (Dynamos won 7-6 on penalties)
BY HENRY MHARA
The match had ended goalless in regulation time.
Mukuruva was a standout performer during the shootout, blocking Wellington Kamudyariwa and Ian Nekati’s penalties.
Mhango, Kelvin Moyo, Steven Sibanda, Simon Shoko, Obrey Chirwa and Elvis Moyo scored their penalties for FC Platinum.
For Dynamos, Ronald Chitiyo missed his penalty, while Ocean Mushure, Godknows Murwira, Takesure Chinyama, Mukuruva,Masimba Mambare and Obey Mwerahari scored theirs. Dynamos, which could not go beyond the first round in last year’s edition will face Chapungu in the last four.
The airmen progressed to the semis after upsetting Chicken Inn on Saturday.
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Dynamos victory was sweet revenge for the DeMbare coach Tonderai Ndiraya and his boys after they were well beaten by FC Platinum in a league match just eight days ago.
Ndiraya was quite relieved with the win, knowing the Chibuku Cup is probably his best opportunity to win some silverware this season.
“I’m quite relieved, it was a difficult match. We did much better than the last time when we met them in the league. Unlike last time, we had so much discipline at the back. We started the match on the back foot, but we picked up as the game progressed. I was confident if we got to the penalty shootout we would win the match because we practiced penalties during our training sessions.”
FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza chose to dwell on the positives picked up from the defeat rather than the setback itself.
“Im proud of the boys, they worked hard because remember we played three difficult matches in a space of eight days. I can’t put blame on anyone because the team did so well, building play from the back although I think we lacked creativity in the final third.
“Im not disappointed at all by this defeat. We are now shifting focus into the league. We will take each game as it comes.”
The two teams came into the match in high spirits following their midweek big victories, which saw Dynamos mauling WhaWha while FC platinum defeated How Mine.
However, they couldn’t repeat the same performance, with both creating very few opportunities in a match that FC Platinum dominated the first half and Dynamos controlled the second.
The few that they created fell to Chinyama for Dynamos who, on one occasion, found himself free in the opponent box, but delayed his shot for FC Platinum goalie Petros Mhari to block the effort after eight minutes.
FC Platinum were no to be outdone and threatened through Winstone Mhango’s free-kick which was tipped over by Mukuruva.
Dynamos’ Rodreck Mutuma had his header cleared off the line on 26th minute.
In the second half, Chinyama appeared to have been fouled in the penalty box, but the referee waved play on.
Chinyama was back to trouble the FC Platinum again with two minutes remaining as he wrestled possession inside the box, but his miscued shot was blocked and the ball fell invitingly for Stephen Alimenda, who also screwed his shot wide forcing the match into a penalty shootout.
Lineups Dynamos: T Mukuruva, O Mushure, G Murwira, E Muroiwa, O Mwerahari, S Alimenda, R Chitiyo, C Rusere, Z Mhanda (M Mambare, 90’), T Chinyama, R Mutuma.
FC Platinum: P Mhari, K Moyo, G Bello, I Nekati, T Dzumbunu (W Kamudyariwa, 65′), GTakwara, M Mudewe (S Sibanda, 88′), E Moyo, B Muzondiwa (S Shoko, 80’), O Chirwa, W Mhango
