adminon Sunday.
While the scoreline suggests that Blue Ribbon won the match in the third minute of injury time, Dynamos statistics show that the match had been decided after only three minutes when the referee awarded a penalty.
That is when Blue Ribbon took the lead from the spot through midfielder and double-scorer, Tinei Chatora.
Lloyd Mutasa’s Dynamos have NOT won a game after falling behind – actually they have lost ALL the four matches in which they fell behind. Against Blue Ribbon it was the FIRST time Dynamos equalised and it was also the first time that Dynamos found the target and still lost.
Until Sunday, Dynamos had won ALL the matches in which they found the target.
But what remains key is that they LOSE once they fall behind.
Before the injury-time penalty, Dynamos looked set for their first scoring draw as all their four draws to date have ended goalless against Hwange, Highlanders, Gunners and Shabanie Mine!
Dynamos have won ALL the five matches in which they took the lead against FC Platinum (2-0), Masvingo United (5-1), Monomotapa (1-0), Shooting Stars (1-0) and Black Mambas (4-1).
DYNAMOS’ FOUR DEFEATS
(1) WEEK ONE @ Rufaro – 27 March
Kiglon 1, Dynamos 0
William Munondo grabbed the only goal of the match in the 68th minute.
(2) WEEK TWO @ Rufaro – 10 April
Motor Action 2, Dynamos 0
Gift Phiri gave Motor Action a 39th minute lead to give the defending champions a halftime lead. As Dynamos sought an equaliser, Edmore Chitato sealed victory for the Mighty Bulls with a 73rd minute header.
(3) WEEK EIGHT @ B/F -15 May
Zimbabwe Saints 1, Dynamos 0
Dynamos’ brief revival was checked at Barbourfields as Zimbabwe Saints claimed a stunning win courtesy of a 54th minute penalty by Abraham Mbaiwa.
Leftback Augustine Mbara had handled inside the box.
(4) WEEK 13 @ Rufaro
Dynamos 1, Blue Ribbon 2
Dynamos conceded a goal inside the opening five minutes for the first time this season. It was the second successive defeat in which a penalty cost Dynamos the match.
Given that Blue Ribbon scored after just three minutes and then sealed victory three minutes into injury time, there was a 90-minute period in which only Dynamos scored.
THE CAPS UNITED CURSE
While CAPS United scored 10 goals in their opening two matches against Zimbabwe Saints (5-3) and Shooting Stars (5-2), Dynamos lost to Kiglon and Motor Action without scoring.
This gave CAPS United a six-point advantage after two weeks and they have been above Dynamos for ALL the 13 weeks!
Dynamos have NOT been able to go above bitter rivals CAPS United in this year’s Premiership campaign.
Each time Dynamos have been presented with a chance to leapfrog CAPS United, they have either drawn or lost the game as was the case on Sunday.
A win over Blue Ribbon on Sunday would have taken Dynamos to 22 points, one more than CAPS United who were held to a goalless draw by Monomotapa at the same venue the previous day.
When Dynamos lost to Zimbabwe Saints, CAPS United had been held to a 2-2 draw by FC Platinum at the National Sports Stadium a day earlier.
Had Dynamos won then they would have joined CAPS United on 14 points.
In Week 9 on May 22, CAPS United lost 1-0 against Highlanders at Barbourfields to remain on 14 points.
Dynamos had the opportunity to join them on 14 points BUT they were held to a goalless draw by Gunners at Rufaro to reduce the gap to two points.
Three days later, there was another opportunity for Dynamos to catch up with CAPS United.
CAPS United suffered a shock 1-0 defeat at home to Hwange at the National Sports Stadium to remain on 14 points.
Dynamos had the opportunity to jump above CAPS United on 15 points but they could only manage a goalless draw away to Shabanie Mine to move to 13 points.
Now Dynamos have the best chance to leapfrog CAPS United as the two sides meet in the Harare derby at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday.
Two points separate the two sides and a Dynamos win will take them above CAPS United while the other two possibilities will leave Moses “Bambo” Chunga with the advantage.
l Lawrence Moyo is the Editor of H-Metro.
Online Reporter