Dynamos beat Caps again

Sport
THE Harare derby lived up to its billing at the National Sports Stadium yesterday and incredibly, Dynamos once again claimed the bragging rights for the fifth year running.

THE Harare derby lived up to its billing at the National Sports Stadium yesterday and incredibly, Dynamos once again claimed the bragging rights for the fifth year running.

Dynamos second goalscorer Russel Madamombe (centre) is congratulated by Ronald Chitiyo (left) and Blessing Moyo at the National Sports Stadium in Harare yesterday
Dynamos second goalscorer Russel Madamombe (centre) is congratulated by Ronald Chitiyo (left) and Blessing Moyo at the National Sports Stadium in Harare yesterday

HENRY MHARA SPORTS REPORTER

Dynamos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0)2 Caps United . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1)1

Caps United completely dominated the first half and went to the break leading one-nil through a Tendai Samanja rocket. They could have scored at least four in the half when they totally overran their opponents.

Dynamos responded with two goals in the second half to seal a memorable win, thanks to a sublime Washington Pakamisa scissors-kick and a smashing effort by substitute Russell Madamombe.

It was a second win for the league champions over their number one enemy in a space of seven days, following a 1-0 win in the One Wallet Cup quarter-final last week.

While the match was fascinating, the post-match comments were equally interesting. Dynamos coach Kalisto Pasuwa congratulated Caps United for scoring their first-ever goal against his side since he took over the reins three years ago.

“I’m happy for them in that they scored a goal in open play against us which is a plus for them. But our players thought they had beaten Caps before the match and it made us trail in the first 45 minutes. We let them play in the first half. We were always second to the ball and we had to talk to the (players) at half time and in the second half they came good,” said Pasuwa.

For Caps United, it appeared as if they fielded two different teams in the two halves — one that played extremely well in the first stanza and the other that was absolutely horrible in the second half.

“(I am) very disappointed I must say,” said Caps United coach Taurai Mangwiro in the post-match interview.

“I thought we had done enough to deserve a victory, but two different teams we had — the one that played in the first half and the one that played in the second half. Perhaps we were our own enemies. We thought perhaps we would be able to defend our lead, but a few minutes into the second half we conceded and at a time when we thought we would regroup, they scored the second goal. I just don’t know if it’s a curse or what because we could have killed the game as a contest in the first half,” concluded Mangwiro.

With injuries to his regular centre-backs, Mangwiro started with a makeshift backline of George Nyirenda and Carlton Muzambwa while Hardlife Zvirekwi was pushed back to cover up for the injured Tapiwa Kumbuyani at right-back. Dominic Chungwa recovered from an injury to start upfront. Dynamos’ line-up was predictable, with the only changes at the left-back position where Thomas Magorimbo started in place of the injured Ocean Mushure while Tafadzwa Rusike started ahead of Madamombe.

After a settling-in period for the first five minutes or so, Caps really went for it with an enthralling display of dynamic wing play and direct attacking football. New acquisitions Nicholas Alifandika and Honey Chimutimunzeve were central in Caps’ raids.

They were moving the ball quickly and in the eighth minute, they were on the lead, Samanja smashing home after the Dynamos defence had failed to clear an Alifandika corner.

Chances continued to fall for the Green Machine. Dominic Mukandi’s angled shot was parried by Artwell Mukandi and it flew across the face of goal on 16th minute. Rodreck Mutuma made some good work on the right, leaving two defenders in his wake, but his cross was directed straight at Caps United goalie Jorum Muchambo by Pakamisa.

Dominic Chungwa hit the upright for Caps United five minutes from the break with a header from yet another Alifandika cross as Caps pushed for the killer goal.

Dynamos were rocking with their defence in shambles —Themba Ndhlovu was looking jittery and young Blessing Moyo was making unforced errors. Hardman Stephen Alimenda was clearly failing to cope with the speed of the game.

It was Dynamos though who had the two last chances of the first half, Mutuma blasted his effort wide while Moyo shot over from long range. Half-time score was 1-0, but it could easily have been 4-0 had Caps United utilised all their chances.

On 55 minutes, DeMbare equalised and deservedly so. Pakamisa brought down a long ball from the midfield and with his back at goal and closely monitored by a defender, he somehow managed to execute a scissors-kick that surprised the badly positioned Muchambo.

On 69th minute, Pasuwa made his second change of the game, bringing in Madamombe for Rusike and the former Monomotapa winger’s impact was immediate.

Within two minutes of coming on, he smashed Dynamos in front from inside the box.

Chitiyo collected a pass from deep and exploited the space in front of him before releasing a shot that the defence managed to block, but Madamombe smashed the rebound home first time.