adminNgqwele Dube Sports Correspondent
Chicken Inn … ……………………………………………………(0) 3
Dynamos … ……………………………………………………………..0
CASTLE Lager Premier Soccer League champions Chicken Inn started their title defence in an emphatic manner when they embarrassed seasoned campaigners Harare giants Dynamos, as they sounded early warning shots over defending their title at Barbourfields stadium yesterday. It was Dynamos coach Paulo Jorge Silva’s first taste of Zimbabwean football albeit on a bitter note. A quick brace by Obadiah Tarumbwa, inside two minutes and another from lanky Tafadzwa Kutinyu proved enough to secure a win for Chicken Inn who dominated proceedings in the second half after Dynamos’ Richard Kawondera was sent off in the 58th minute for a second bookable offence.
The match started on a high tempo with the home side dominating the first 10 minutes of the opening stanza but Dynamos, the people’s favourite on the day, slowly crept back into the game in what was a see-saw affair as the two top teams of the 2015 season searched for the vital early initiative.
Chicken Inn showed early intention in the 4th minute when veteran midfielder Clemence Matawu crossed the ball into the goal area that invited a scramble in the DeMbare area only to find an awe stricken but advancing Kutinyu who shot over the bar.
Three minutes later Matawu had an opportunity to give Chicken Inn the lead when Tarumbwa flighted a a handsome cross from the right flank, which Matawu directed off-target from a header.
Dynamos striker Rodrick Mutuma agonisingly came close to scoring when he shrugged off a challenge from the Chicken Inn defence and shot just outside the penalty area only for Elvis Chipezeze in goals for the home side to punch the ball out of danger.
DeMbare goalkeeper Tatenda Mukuruva, who apparently had a nightmarish outing in goals, was at hand to deny Michelle Katsvairo in the 40th minute after he was spotted by Tarumbwa. Katsvairo had managed to shake off a timid challenge from Dynamos captain Elisha Muroiwa.
Dynamos made a penalty call in the 42nd minute when Walter Mukanga released a thunder bolt strike that was blocked by Lawrence Mhlanga but referee Thomas Masa waved play on.
Chicken Inn came back from the break the better team and they piled on the pressure although Dynamos made forays of their own.
Kawondera had himself to blame when he was booked for a second bookable offence after he kicked the ball into the nets when play was stopped as medics attended to an injured Chipezeze.
The Dynamos striker had earlier been given a yellow card for an infringement on Devine Lunga in the 28th minute.
The GameCocks made use of their numerical advantage making persistent raids at the DeMbare goal area and that paid dividends when livewire Edmore Chirambadare crossed in from the left for Tarumbwa to silence the Dynamos faithfuls.
A minute later, before Dynamos could reorganise themselves, Tarumbwa struck again after Mukuruva spilled a cross from the right flank and the ball landed onto Chirambadare’s path who pushed it to an unmarked Tarumbwa, who coolly slotted in his and Chicken Inn’s second goal. Kutinyu hit the final nail on the DeMbare’s coffin when he met, first time, Clemence Matawu cross from the right flank.
Chicken Inn coach, Joey Antipas praised his charges describing their performance as “brilliant stuff”.
He said they changed their game plan in the second half as they had been cautious in the first half but decided to “press” the visitors after the breather.
“We changed the approach in the second half as we pressed them in the second half and it paid dividends and we took advantage when they lost one of their players, we moved the ball to the wide areas and it worked brilliantly for us,” said Antipas.
Dynamos coach, Jorge Silva blamed the loss of Kawondera for the result but was pleased with the performance of his charges.
“Playing one man short against a good side like Chicken Inn was always going to be a difficult task but I think it was a game of two halves as we managed to take the reins in the first half but we didn’t play as well in the second half,” said Silva.
Teams
Chicken Inn: E Chipezeze, P Bernard, D Lunga, L Mhlanga, M Jackson, D Phiri, C Matawu (G Majika, 81stt), E Chirambadare, T Kutinyu (P Tafirenyika, 86th), O Tarumbwa (M Demera, 78thh), M Katsvairo
Dynamos: T Mukuruva, E Muroiwa, O Mushure, S Linyama, S Alimenda (T Chipunza, 66thh), W Mukanga (D Mukandi, 68thh), M Mambare (K Bulaji, 55th), F Mupasiri, R Mutuma, R Kawondera, G Murwira
Online Reporter