RODERCK Mutuma scored a goal on his return to lead Dynamos to a win over Black Rhinos at the National Sports Stadium yesterday, a victory that took the league champions back to second position on the log table.
HENRY MHARA SPORTS REPORTER
Dynamos………………. (1) 2 Black rhinos………….. (1) 1
The striker, who was offloaded by Absa Premier side Bloemfontein Celtic at the start of the year and failed to land a deal with Moroka Swallows last week, opened the scoring with a header after 10 minutes before left-back Ocean Mushure ensured maximum points for the Harare giants with a cracker of a goal at the restart.
Black Rhinos had equalised though Nesbert Padzarondera with a well struck shot on 23 minutes.
This result meant Dynamos reclaimed second position on the log table with 26 points, a position they share with city rivals Caps United. The two teams are a point behind log leaders Highlanders. Rhinos, sunk deep into relegation zone, moving to second from the bottom with 12 points.
Dynamos assistant coach Philemon Mutyakureva who was in charge of the team in the absence of head coach Kalisto Pasuwa attending a Caf A licence coaching course, said he was happy his team managed to collect all the points. Rhinos coach Arthur Tutani said his team wasted numerous chances and deserved at least a point.
The home side named Mutuma in the starting line-up while Lot Chiwunga was in the starting 11 for Rhinos for the first time since his injury sustained against Harare City more than a month ago.
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It was Mutuma who made the early impression on his return to local football, giving Dynamos the lead with a header following some good work by Murape Murape on the right wing.
The veteran midfielder who was clearly the best player on the field before he picked an injury and was eventually substituted just after 20 minutes, beat his marker twice before delivering a perfect cross that needed the simplest of touches from Mutuma for an easy goal.
Despite conceding the early goal, the visitors were enjoying plenty of possession in the middle third, but threatened little.
Their first attack of note arrived after 23 minutes when Chiwunga’s header drew the best out of Dynamos goalkeeper Artwell Mukandi.
Dynamos supporters then got a big relief moments later when Mukandi completely missed a back pass from Themba Ndlovu, but recovered well to stop the ball as it was about to cross the goal line.
But it was all square on 28th minute when Padzarondera’s shot from just outside the box gave the outstretched Mukandi no chance.
Rhinos were clearly on top of the situation at this moment as they passed the ball around nicely, but the chances were still few for them.
Instead, it was Dynamos who could have taken the lead as the half-time whistle drew closer, but Mutuma shot tamely at goal with his weaker left foot when put through by substitute Cliff Sekete, as the two teams went to the break deadlocked.
Just 43 seconds had been played in the second period when Dynamos restored their goal advantage. Devon Chafa spread the ball wide to left-back Mushure who galloped forward, beating one defender in the process before releasing a firm angled shot that hit the far post and diverted into the nets.
It almost got better for Dynamos two minutes later, but Chafa’s long- range shot caught Rhinos keeper Jonathan Zvaita off position, only to be stopped by the upright.
A break in communication between Mukandi and Ndlovu almost gifted Rhinos an equaliser, but the later recovered quickly to scramble the ball away.
Obey Gada raced back to clear from the line after Mutuma had beaten Zvaita with a cleverly lobbied effort.
But it was nothing if compared to Sekete’s defensive heroics on 79 minutes when he put his face on the line to block Chiwunga’s shot which had ricocheted off the underside of the cross bar following a mêlée inside the Dynamos box.
The contest really should have been ended on 83rd minute when Ronald Chitiyo and Mutuma came against one defender, but wasted the opportunity.
The visitors had good chances in the closing stages of the match.
