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From Tobias Mandoreba in Hwange
Hwange…………………………………………………. (2)4
Dynamos ……………………………………………….. (0)2
A COMBINATION of renewed fighting spirit, sheer determination and amazing attacking prowess formed the core of Hwange’s dazzling performance as the fired up coalminers silenced the blue and white masses in a pulsating Castle Lager Premier League match at the Colliery Stadium yesterday.
As early as the second minute Hwange had already knocked on the Dynamos door when Eric Chipeta’s scorching free kick was spilled by goalkeeper George Chigova who had to thank defender Tawanda Magorimbo for scooping the ball to safety.
The immediate response by Dynamos in the fifth minute when Tichaona Mabvura laid a sitter for overlapping Oscar Machapa whose first time effort hit the side netting saw the game livening for the first quarter before the Harare giants went to sleep and allowed Hwange to control proceedings.
An 18th minute dipping free kick by Hwange right back Eric Chipeta which was acrobatically tipped over the bar by Chigova was one of the early signs that the coal embers were ready to engulf the visitors under the simmering Hwange temperatures.
The visitors continued to live dangerously and it was no surprise as big defender Victor Kamhuka tripped double scorer Gilbert Zulu inside the box in the 32th minute as he prepared to pull the trigger.
The referee Hardley Ndazi did not hesitate to point to the spot.
Hwange’s penalty specialist Gerald Ndlovu did not disappoint on the big stage as he sent Chigova the wrong way with a fine effort to give Hwange the lead.
Four minutes later the DeMbare vocal fans were left speechless when Hwange doubled their advantage through a ferocious left footed volley from Nkosana Siwela which hit the roof of the nets leaving Chigova rooted on the same spot.
This was after a lovely combination on the left between Hwange’s man of the match Isaac Masame and Oscar Lungu.
Dynamos then came charging like a wounded buffalo and reduced the arrears just two minutes after the break when left back Ocean Mushure’s curling free kick from the edge of the box gave young Hwange goal minder Takabva Mawaya no chance.
Three minutes later DeMbare were deflated when Zulu restored Hwange’s double advantage with a fine header into the back of the nets after a lovely corner kick from Chipeta.
The Glamour Boys simply refused to give up and again pulled another goal back in the 58th minute when Mushure completed his double from another free kick from almost a similar position.
This time his free kick took a deflection on the wall to deceive Mawaya who went the wrong way to rouse the Dynamos fans back to life.
Dynamos’ two substitutes Clive Kawinga and Patrick Khumbula then started to inspire their team as Dynamos started pressing forward in search of an equalizer.
With DeMbare now playing with their tails up, it was veteran striker Zulu who then drove the final nail into the coffin with another glancing header in the 78th minute to leave their fans in a deathly silence.
Dynamos then threw everyone forward but they could not pull the game out of the fire and the coalminers defended hard the most famous win of this season.
In a match screened live on SS9, the home side sent out a bold statement that they are prepared to move mountains in their quest to continue dancing with the elite in Zimbabwe’s domestic football in 2014.
Hwange have been wobbling towards the finishing line with 22 points from 21 games going into yesterday’s match, raising fears of a repeat of the 2007 nightmare when they were demoted into the unfashionable jungles of Division One football.
But all that changed in a 90-minute spell of dramatic football which left the Harare giants’ credentials to bag a third title on the trot under immense spotlight.
It is not every day that a team can pump four goals past Dynamos, even their chairman Kenny Mubaiwa who had given the post match interview in place of the head coach Callisto Pasuwa who was locked in the dressing with his lads admitted the coalminers were simply unstoppable.
“We did not play badly but I should admit that Hwange, as a team who are fighting relegation played very well and we simply had no answer though we gave everything to get something from the match.
“It’s a wake up call for us as we need to go a gear up if we are to defend the title. We have some consolation in the fact that the second placed team Harare City drew so we are still tops.” said Mubaiwa, showing no signs of pressure at all.
Hwange’s goalkeeper’ s coach Chenjerayi Dube, again given the task of handling the post match interviews after head coach Nation Dube’s now trademark loss of voice after games, declared that better times are in store for the coalminers.
“It was a wonderful day in the office for everyone. As I said last Sunday when we beat FC Platinum we now mean business and we are playing as a unit. We needed the three points badly and I can say from now we are competing like a well oiled unit,” said the soft speaking former Hwange goal minder.
For Dynamos who left the stadium with their tails in between their legs after the drubbing, the writing was on the wall especially in the first half when they probably did a lot of injustice to their sponsors who flew them from Harare aboard Air Zimbabwe for the match.
The win will give the coalminers all the hope as they travel to meet Triangle at Gibbo Stadium on Sunday.
Hwange now have 25 points from 22 outings.
TEAMS:
HWANGE: T Mawaya; E Chipeta; M Mungadze; D Boriwondo; G Ndlovu; F Vimisai; O Lungu(E Rusike66th min); I Masame; N Siwela; G Zulu
DYNAMOS: G Chigova; T Magorimbo; O Mushure; G Bello; V Kamhuka; S Linyama; B Zarintusa( C Kawinga46th min); T Muparati; W Pakamisa; T Mabvura(P Khumbula 46th min); O Machapa(82th min)..
Online Reporter