DYNAMOS new boy Anesu Gondo scored a brace as the champions overcame a battling Harare City in a tense Castle Lager Premier Soccer League tie at the National Sports Stadium yesterday.
Tawanda Tafirenyika Sports Correspondent Dynamos . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 3 Harare City . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 1
City, who went into the match seeking to register their first win of the season, started brightly and matched their opponents blow by blow.
Midfielder Phineas Bhamusi came close in the first minute of the match, but his speculative effort was tipped over by goalkeeper Artwell Mukandi.
But Dynamos made sure two minutes later with Gondo heading home a corner-kick by Thomas Magorimbo. In the seventh minute, Washington Pakamisa directed his effort over the bar after he was set up by Magorimbo.
Harare City, however, refused to be cowed into submission and threatened their opponents with some good raids. In the 12th minute, skipper Nathan Ziwini got to the end of a free-kick by Munyaradzi Nyenye and volleyed the ball into the net for the equaliser that sent a handful of their supporters into frenzy.
In the 21st minute, William Manondo also came close, but his long-range effort was tipped over by Mukandi. At the stroke of the first half, Pakamisa directed his effort wide.
In the second half, Ronald Chitiyo watched his downward header narrowly missing the target. Dynamos coach Kalisto Pasuwa then pulled off Devon Chafa bringing in Walter Mukanga and the substitution paid off as the former Triangle midfielder brought in the creativity that had been lacking before scoring the insurance goal that condemned Harare City to their fourth successive defeat of the season.
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Winger Russel Madamombe, who also came in as a substitute replacing Chitiyo, missed with a wild effort on 72 minutes. In the 74th minute, Gondo profited from a breakdown in communication between centre-backs Chrispen Dickson and Arnold Chivheya to force his way between them before drilling a low shot to complete a double and send Dynamos into the top of the log.
But Mukanga sealed the victory for Dynamos nine minutes from full time when he drilled home following a set-up by Madamombe.
Harare City coach Mawiwi said they played well, but conceded silly goals.
“We were let down by the defence. We conceded silly goals. First, it was a corner and then our centre-backs. It was two versus one, but we got punished. We have been talking about the need to defend well. We now must win our next match,” he said.
Pasuwa was happy that they finally got the goals.
“We have been worried about goals and I am happy we got the goals today. I am happy with Gondo’s two goals. We have been offensive, but I am still worried by they way we are conceding goals. We are always conceding at the restart,” he said.
