Chronicle Editor
Eddie Chikamhi, Harare Bureau
Dynamos 1-2 CAPS United
CAPS United reserved the best for the last 20 minutes to claim the bragging rights in the Harare Derby after staging a dramatic comeback against old foes Dynamos at Rufaro Stadium yesterday.
The Green Machine, who three weeks ago staged a similar heist against Highlanders and won 3-2 at the same venue, rekindled the spirit yesterday to claim the bragging rights of the city for the first time in four years.
Dynamos coach Lloyd Chigowe conceded that it was a painful defeat after former DeMbare man Jayden Bakari and Rodwell Chinyengetere hit the Glamour Boys where it hurts the most.
The script took a sudden twist as Makepekepe overturned Valentine Kadonzvo’s 39th-minute lead and leapfrogged their rivals on the log standings.
It was also a victory for CAPS United coach Lloyd Chitembwe, who outthought his opposite number Chigowe in a battle of wits in the second-half.
“It’s a very painful defeat, and coming against our bitter rivals it leaves us with a sour taste in the mouth,” said Chigowe.
The lanky gaffer believes the second-half substitutes by CAPS, including the introduction of DeMbare outcasts Bakari and Tendai Matindife unsettled his team.
“When you bring in an old boy to play against his former team, they always prove to be dangerous. You could see that Bakari had a point to prove and he went on to score the decisive goal that brought CAPS United back into the game.
“But overall, I thought we went to sleep when we conceded a free-kick and CAPS United managed to walk away with three points in a tight game,” said Chigowe.
CAPS United moved into sixth position on the log standings with 41 points while DeMbare dropped to ninth with 38 points. Makepekepe are 19 points behind runaway log leaders, Simba Bhora, going into the last six games of the season.
Going into this match, CAPS United were without captain Godknows Murwira while DeMbare missed vice-captain Emmanuel Jalai, as they left for South Africa yesterday on national team duty.
But the absence of Murwira opened the doors for former Yadah defender Brian Kadamanja who acquitted himself well in central defence alongside Hastings Chapusha.
DeMbare looked like the better team in the early exchanges.
Winger Issa Sadiki made some fancy footwork early on and twice came close but not quite on target before running out of steam and being hauled out midway through the second-half.
But Kadonzvo put DeMbare ahead in the 39th minute after getting to the end of a swift attack by the Glamour Boys and finishing with aplomb.
Kadonzvo benefited from a diagonal pass from Emmanuel Ziocha in the centre circle and raced down the left flank into the box before sliding the ball between the legs of advancing goalkeeper Ashley Reyners.
DeMbare could have doubled their lead soon after the restart only for goalkeeper Rayners to produce a brilliant save when diving to his right to stop a first-time grounder from Donald Mudadi, after a long ball from the centre had split the Green Machine defence through the middle.
But CAPS United did not throw in the towel. They equalised with 20 minutes remaining on the clock when Bakari ghosted in and toe-poked the ball beyond the goalkeeper following a communication breakdown between goalkeeper Martin Mapisa and his defender Donald Dzvinyai.
Makepekepe struck again before DeMbare could reorganise themselves, this time from a corner kick that was nodded in by veteran Chinyengetere.
With the goal, the tide suddenly changed, and emotions were running high on the pitch and the terraces.
Frustrated DeMbare fans, unable to stomach the impending defeat, started hurling missiles onto the pitch while some just walked out of the stadium with about six minutes of regulation time remaining.
Chitembwe bemoaned the absence of Murwira despite his team staging a gallant fight to claim the bragging rights.
Online Reporter