Dynamos . . . . . . . . . (0) 1 Chapungu . . . . . . . . . (1) 1
TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
WELL, it seemed an easy fixture for Dynamos on paper, but Chapungu ensured a share of the spoils as Simba Sithole came to the rescue of the Harare giants in a Castle Lager Premiership tie at Rufaro Stadium yesterday.
The two points dropped by the defending champions counted for little as their adversaries ZPC Kariba and Caps United both faltered at the weekend, losing 2-0 and 2-1 to FC Platinum and Triangle, respectively.
The result means Chapungu have picked up four points from Dynamos this season after beating them 1-0 at Ascot Stadium and leaves the Gweru-based side in 10th place with 33 points.
Dynamos saw their gap at the top cut by a point — they have 50 points while ZPC and Caps remained on 47 and 45. Sithole, returning to action after a long lay-off due to injury, came in for the ineffective Walter Mukanga at the start of the second half and within a minute, Dynamos were level.
It was a game of stunning goals, Phillip Marufu coolly chested a Talent Mwale cross and volleyed home from an acute angle with his left foot.
Then after the restart, Ronald Chitiyo chested the ball down for Sithole, who rifled home with his right foot from inside the box.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Chapungu coach John Nyikadzino was happy with his charges’ performance and believes he can survive the chop.
“I am happy with the point we picked, but we could have won the match 1-0,” said Nyikadzino.
“Our game plan was to keep possession and try to hit them on counter-attacks, but went to sleep in the second half. We were let down by complacency.”
Dynamos mentor Kalisto Pasuwa said he was happy to collect a point.
“Of course, I am happy to collect a point, but in the first 45 minutes we were asleep,” he said. “We were second to the ball. Ronald dropped deep in midfield because our two wing-backs were going forward so we had to congest the midfield. But the championship race is still wide open.”
Although the airmen secured a vital point in their battle for survival, they are still to register a win away from home and the goal by Marufu means they have now scored four times on the road.
Their next match is against Bantu Rovers at Ascot and with their unbeaten home record, they are sure to collect maximum points in their march towards safety.
Dynamos will be away to Harare City at Rufaro on Wednesday. City lost 3-2 to Buffaloes at Sakubva yesterday.
