Online Reporter
Good afternoon from Harare.
Rufaro Stadium is expected to be a theatre of celebration and anguish this afternoon as CAPS United face Dynamos in a Harare Derby showdown that has a significant bearing on the survival of both teams at the end of this season.
Both giants are battling to keep their heads above water with just six games before the curtain pulls down the term.
CAPS United have amassed 32 points and only a point above the relegation demarcation line while Dynamos are worse off, with 29 points and sitting second from bottom, only above already relegated Kwekwe United.
But under their Zambian coach Kelvin Kaindu who came to the fore last month, the Glamour Boys are yet to taste defeat while Makepekepe haven’t really punched well in recent games.
The match will also mark the first time for the Zambian coaches to stand on the dugout for the respective Harare giants on a day that the capital splits into green and blue.
With Dynamos under Kaindu, CAPS United are under the tutelage of Ian Bakala.
It is the latter who enjoyed dominance over the latter when the two were still coaching Zambian teams before crossing the Zambezi.
Our Reporter Tadious Manyepo is at Rufaro and will keep you informed.
Stay tuned.
Nhevera to handle Harare Derby
For the first time in donkey years, the Harare Derby will be without veteran referee Brighton Chimene as the centre-man with the ever-improving Israel Nhevera to handle it.
Chimene is in the Congo Brazzaville where he is officiating a CAF inter-club match.
But Nhevera has been one of the standout performers with the whistle this season and is expected to manage the fragile fixture quite well.
He will be assisted by Wirimayi Muroiwa and Dominica Melusi with the highly-rated Mercy Maimbo the fourth official.
How the teams are lining up for the Derby
CAPS United
Stephen Odai Kwaku, Bruce Kangwa, Jimmy Dzingai Wesley Milanzi, Chitoshi Chinga, Bernard Chipanera, Tanaka Shandirwa, Kundai Benyu, Phineas Bamusi, Ishmael Wadi, Chris Mugalu
Subs: Harmony Nare, Kelvin Mangiza, Shawn Muzinde, Nyasha Chintuli, Junior Bunjira, Ajida Assan Saeed, Kennedy Mupomba, Tendai Matindife, Jayden Bakari
Dynamos:
Prince Tafiremutsa, Emmanuel Jalai, Abel Gwatidzo, Tendaishe Magwaza, Issaka Mohammed, Tellmore Pio, Vusa Ngwenya, Shadreck Nyahwa, Wisdom Mutasa, Jairos Kasondo, Leeroy Mavunga
Subs: Tatenda Makoni, Ramsom Chingwara, Enasio Perezo Jnr, Clive Mandivei, Valentine Kadonzvo, Keith Madera, Felix Hammond, Frank Agyemang, Denver Mukamba
Elsewhere…
CAPS United 15:00 Dynamos
Rufaro Stadium
Highlanders 15:00 ZPC Kariba
Barbourfields Stadium
Kwekwe United 15:00 MWOS
Ascot Stadium
Derby kicks-off with terraces still filling-up
CAPS United gets us underway at Rufaro. It’s a carnival in the stands but people are still trickling in. Maybe in 10-20 mins the terraces will be full given there are still snaking queues outside the arena.
It’s a game neither wants to lose. The implications will be dire. What a match we could have.
Derby balanced in opening 10mins
CAPS United sniffed the Dynamos goal in the opening stages and enjoyed most of the ball. But slowly, Dynamos crawled back into it. It’s like a see-saw game so far with the scoreboard still clean.
Dzingai is first player to be cautioned
A crude challenge on Dynamos’ Jairos Kasondo has Jimmy Dzingai becoming the first player to get into the ref’s book.
The resultant freekick, taken by Emmanuel Jalai, goes begging and Dynamos have to restart the formulae.
Kangwa lies down injured
CAPS United’s Bruce Kangwa is injured and has to be helped out. Ironically he came off worse from a tackle to which he was the offender and had to be cautioned.
It’s midway through the first half and there is little to no goalmouth action as the scores remain goalless.
The injury to Kangwa looks bad and might have to be replaced.
Mangiza comes on for Kangwa
CAPS United have been forced to pull out Kangwa through injury. Kelvin Mangiza steps in for the 38-year old veteran.
Kwaku makes good save
Dynamos ripped their opponents open with a good interplay and Kasondo packed a shot at goal.
Kwaku was equal to the task and the turn-over has seen CAPS United getting a freekick in a promising position
What a save from Tafiremutsa
A really good freekick from Kundai Benyu, venomous and dipping. It was bound for the top corner but Tafiremutsa tipped it out
Subs warm up
Substitutions are warming up while their colleagues are back in the changing rooms.
Looks like we will witness some changes from either side at the resumption
Second half begins
It is Dynamos who usher us into the second half.
And it is the Glamour Boys who make the first change of this half with Valentine Kadonzvo coming on for Wisdom Mutasa
Dynamos open the scoring
Dynamos have taken the lead through Kasondo
Good goal from Kasondo
The agility that Kasondo possesses in that rigid-looking frame is top-notch. How he flew over and squeezed the ball at the near post is the stuff that defines good players
How Dynamos fans love Denver Mukamba. They roar as the midfielder takes to the touchline
Denver comes on
Dynamos look like a team that want to attack.
Denver Mukamba is on for Pio, they replace Kasondo with Hammond and Enasio Perezu (Jnr) for Mavhunga
Triple sub for CAPS United
Bakala’s reaction to the Dynamos goal sees him throwing in more men in the offense.
Junior Bunjira is on for Bamusi, Chintuli for Chipanera and Matindife replaces Wadi.
CAPS Utd out of their shell
Dynamos’ goal has forced CAPS United to rethink and they are literally out of their shell now.
They are pinning their opponents and it looks like they would equalise but time is running out.
Time running out for CAPS United
Dynamos are slowly dragging themselves over the line.
Their game management tactics are next level.
They can see this one out as CAPS United desperately try to get back into it right into the five minutes of added time.
Full time at Rufaro
CAPS United 0-1 Dynamos
Celebration time for Dynamos
Dynamos beat CAPS United in Harare Derby
It wasn’t a thriller but it wasn’t dull too.
So just one goal was enough to ease relegation worries for Dynamos after they beat CAPS United in the derby at Rufaro this afternoon.
Jairos Kasondo headed home a corner at the near post to give the Glamour Boys the wings that took them to 32 points, the same number as CAPS United but themselves still in the relegation mire and behind CAPS on goal difference.
Now both giants should punch hard to pull themselves in this obvious precipice in the last five games.
The match was tense given the stakes and that took a bit of lustre off it.
But there was nothing to take the carnival off the stands after both team’s fans turned up in their numbers.
CAPS United fashioned out good chances but fluffed all of them while Dynamos utilized a half-chance.
That means since his coming, Dynamos’ Zambian coach Kelvin Kaindu is yet to taste defeat in all competitions.
Dynamos fans can celebrate well into the night while their counterparts despair after the bragging rights were taken away from them.
But both should know it’s still a long way to safety going into the last five games of the season.
