DYNAMOS’ five-year dominance over Caps United came to a halt at the National Sports Stadium yesterday as the Green Machine beat their bitter rivals to reach the finals of the Zimbawe National Army Charity Shield where they will meet FC Platinum.
HENRY MHARA SPORTS REPORTER
Caps United . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1)1 DYNAMOS . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
This is the fourth game in a row where Dynamos have failed to score a goal.
Defender Dominic Mukandi’s first half goal from outside the box secured the win as his side finally broke the hoodoo.
Caps United coach Taurai Mangwiro, often viewed suspiciously by a section of the team’s supporters because of his previous links with Dynamos, said he felt relieved.
“We needed to win this match badly because even in the other two matches we lost when I was in charge, they were very close just like today’s (yesterday) match. We got the lead and we managed to protect it which is the most important thing. After taking the lead we managed to create very good opportunities which I think we should have taken,” he said.
Dynamos assistant coach Philimon Mutyakureva who held fort in the absence of head coach Kalisto Pasuwa, will come under further criticism from the team’s supporters; most of them who felt he was not the right person for the job.
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DeMbare were flat, jittery at the back, clueless in midfield and dismally lacked creativity going forward.
Mutyakureva quickly vanished into the dressing room soon after the final whistle, leaving the responsibility of the press for post-match conference to team manager Richard Chihoro.
In the absence of a host of first team players due to different reasons, Dynamos handed Artwell Mukandi the goalkeeper position and Augustine Mbara was at the heart of defence while young Blessing Moyo got his derby debut.
Tafadzwa Rusike, Oscar Machapa and Simba Sithole all started against their former club. Ronald Chitiyo was dropped to the bench.
For Caps United, Leonard Fiyado returned from injury and was named in the first 11 to partner Dominic Chungwa upfront. Former Shabanie Mine midfielder Pervington Zimunya was also in the starting line-up for his first Harare derby.
Mangwiro’s men started the match brightly and good chances came and went for them in the early part of the game, Zimunya and Gift Phiri passing up the best of them.
So dominant was Caps United in those early stages that Dynamos’ first chance of the game only arrived after 16 minutes when Tichaona Mabvura failed to connect a cross from Machapa.
Another good chance went begging for Caps United on the 28th minute when Fiyado’s cross ran across the face of goal after a mistake by the Dynamos goalkeeper.
Phiri scuffed his shot from inside the box moments later after he had gotten to the end of a Zimunya pass.
Caps deservedly went in front when Mukandi rifled home from a Chungwa lay-off. It almost got better for Caps a minute later, but Mukandi saved well from another Zimunya header.
On 44th minute, Moses Muchenje was denied by Mukandi from a point-blank range. In all honesty, it could easily have been 5-0 at that stage of the game.
Dynamos made two changes on 52 minutes, bringing in Washington Pakamisa and Cliff Sekete for Machapa and Mukanga, and the team sprung into life.
Pakamisa was quickly involved when he shrugged off a challenge, but his shot was blocked by the trailing legs of Caps United goalie Jorum Muchambo.
Both teams had good chances late in the game, but Caps United managed to hold on for the memorable win.
