Dynamos pressed themselves into a retreating corner following a lifeless display in yesterday’s Caf Champions League first round, first leg goalless draw with Congolese giants AS Vita at the National Sports Stadium.
MICHAEL MADYIRA Sports Reporter
Dynamos . . . . . . . . . 0 AS Vita . . . . . . . . . 0
Vita threw everything at the hosts and gave the strongest indication that Dynamos will face a torrid time in the return leg in Kinshasa next weekend.
In their first-ever meeting with Vita, it was Dynamos’ fourth draw in nine confrontations with Congolese sides in the Champions League. They have won three times and lost twice to the Congolese.
Yesterday DeMbare coach Kalisto Pasuwa conceded being inferior to their opponents.
“The opposition played like they were the ones at home,” admitted Pasuwa.
“We were not aggressive in terms of 50-50 duels. Vita are a good side, very compact.”
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Dynamos can, however, take solace in that they kept a clean sheet and could enjoy the advantage of an away goal in the event of a scoring draw in the second leg.
“I believe it is still game on. The good thing is we did not concede. We can go there and score. When we go out there we do not have to defend. We have to attack so that we get a goal,” Pasuwa said.
Having previously coached in China where he mentored ex-Real Madrid, Chelsea and French star Nicholas Anelka at big-spending Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua, visiting coach Florent Ibenge was diplomatic about his views on Dynamos.
Ibenge was forced to withdraw injured forward Luvumbu Nzinga who was the biggest threat to Dynamos. Another striker Mubele Ndombe was also pulled out injured.
“It was a difficult match. Really tough,” Ibenge said.
“It will also be difficult for us at home because Dynamos are fast. But we will try to beat them. At least we now know how they play and it is good that we drew. Now I have to see if the injured guys could be fit for the second leg.”
A defensive lapse by Dynamos nearly gifted Vita with a goal eight minutes into the match when Nzinga dispossessed Partson Jaure who was battling to deal with a dangerous back pass from Oscar Machapa, but goalkeeper George Chigova repelled Nzinga’s effort for a corner-kick.
Chigova was again called into action in the 36th minute when he palmed out Nzinga’s free-kick. Etekiama Agiti headed narrowly wide.
Dynamos offered no threat in the first half but had substitute Simba Sithole shooting just wide after being released by the impressive Ronald Chitiyo 11 minutes after the restart.
Ten minutes later Ocean Mushure released a low drive that for the first time, forced a desperate save from Vita goalkeeper Hérve Lomboto.
Another Dynamos defensive lapse between Mushure and Sydney Linyama saw Agiti ghosting to steal the ball from the contemplating defenders, but Chigova was on hand to avert the danger.
Sithole and Chitiyo could have pounced on the spoils, but watched Lomboto save two attempts and a powerful drive by Machapa following a surge down the right flank by the defender three minutes before time.
