Triange………..(1)….1 Dynamos…….(0)…2
KENNETH NYANGANI in TRIANGLE
RIDING THE storm of their in-house problems, Dynamos played like true champions to overturn a first-half deficit and pick up crucial maximum points against Triangle at Gibbo Stadium yesterday.
The win propelled them back to the summit of Castle Lager Premier League standings.
They now have 39 points from 21 matches while Highlanders and ZPC Kariba are on second and third positions respectively with 38 points. Caps United are fourth on 37 points after all the top four teams won their weekend matches.
Triangle scored through Praise Tonha in the 30th minute while the visitors responded through Augustine Mbara in the 56th minute from the spot and substitute Washington Pakamisa provided the sucker punch in the 69th minute.
The encounter had its own fair share of controversy with Kwekwe-based referee Thabani Bamala making numerous questionable decisions. Dynamos head coach Kalisto Pasuwa said he was still worried with the match fitness of his players.
“l am naturally happy for the win. It was a crucial win for us, but l am still worried with the level of fitness in my team. The last minutes of the match were difficult for us,” he said.
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After the match Triangle head coach Biggie Zuze said he was not happy with poor officiating, but believed his players played well. “I think coaching Dynamos is one of the easiest tasks because you have got many sympathisers.
“You tend to get favourable decisions. If they win the title they would have got it from nothing.
“They were given a penalty — and that was not a penalty — and look we could have been given a penalty in the second half and they did not give us,” he said.
“Anyway, the team played very well although we missed many chances. We should learn to punish our opponents,” he added.
Dynamos midfielder Walter Mukanga had a goal in the nets just two minutes into the game but first assistant referee Thomas Kusosa had flagged for an off-side.
Five minutes later, the visitors’ goalkeeper Artwell Mukandi stretched far to his right to save Graham Ncube’s pin-point cross with unmarked Brian Juwayeyi waiting for the kill.
In the 11th minute Mukanga set up Tafadzwa Rusike inside the box, but he ballooned his shot over the bar.
The home side made an injury- inspired substitution bringing on Cabby Kamhapa for Charles Makoto in the 22th minute.
In the 30th minute Triangle won a free-kick at the edge of the box after Blessing Moyo had hacked down Ncube. Tonha kept his cool to beat Mukandi.
Triangle almost doubled their lead in the 40th minute when Hillary Bakacheza fed Richard Kawondera inside the box, but he fired wide. Dynamos started the second half with a clear intention of getting an equaliser by substituting Farai Mupasiri for Anesu Gondo in the 50th minute.
Six minutes later Dynamos were awarded a dubious penalty after defender Jimmy Dzingai was adjudged to have handled inside his box by Bamala. Up stepped Mbara to beat Triangle shot stopper Ronald Mudimu.
In the 60th minute a Mukanga shot missed the target with a few inches with Mudimu a well beaten man.
Three minutes later, Ncube missed a sitter in a face-to-face situation with Mudimu after he was fed by Kawondera.
Pakamisa who came in for Mukanga in the 61th minute, scored from a close range benefiting from a move that was engineered by Ronald Chitiyo.
Triangle was, however, denied what seemed like a genuine penalty in the 75th minute after defender Moyo handled inside the box Bakacheza’s fine cross.
Referee Bamala waved for a play-on.
