Online Reporter
Onward Gangata
TelOne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 1
Dynamos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2) 2
DYNAMOS walked away from a rain soaked Ascot Stadium yesterday afternoon with their first three points of the season after edging TelOne 2-1 in a match that had already been pushed back once and still threatened to disappear under the stubborn Gweru weather.
The fixture had been scheduled for Saturday but a waterlogged pitch forced a postponement, and when light rain returned early Sunday morning there were again anxious looks toward the grey sky before Premier Soccer League officials, including chief executive Rodwell Thabe, finally ruled the surface playable.
It took TelOne barely two minutes to take advantage of the slippery conditions.
A quick move caught Dynamos flat and Jerry Chipangura reacted first inside the box, squeezing the ball past the goalkeeper to give the Wifi Boys a dream start and briefly lift the mood among the home supporters who had braved the damp stands.
For a while it looked as if TelOne might ride that early momentum.
Instead the game slowly tilted the other way as Dynamos settled, began to hold the ball better in midfield and started asking questions down the flanks where the wet surface made defending awkward.
The equaliser arrived in the 14th minute and it carried a touch of old fashioned centre forward bravery.
Perfect Chikwende swung a teasing cross toward the penalty area and Frank Agyemang launched himself at it, his diving header skidding off the slick turf before bouncing into the net as the Dynamos bench leapt to its feet.
That moment steadied the Harare giants.
From then on they looked more comfortable, pushing TelOne deeper and forcing the home side into hurried clearances while the midfield battle became increasingly scrappy as players struggled to keep their footing on the damp grass.
The decisive moment came late in the first half and it was TelOne goalkeeper Takudzwa Chikosi will replay in his mind for some time.
Under little pressure he misjudged a loose ball in front of him and Jairos Kasondo needed no second invitation, calmly lifting it over the stranded keeper and watching it drop into the empty net to hand Dynamos the lead before the break.
The second half was less about flowing football and more about survival.
TelOne pushed forward in search of a response but the pitch continued to dictate the tempo of the contest, passes slowed by puddles and tackles flying in as players mistimed challenges on the greasy surface.
Dynamos defender Christopher Nettey stood out during that period, repeatedly stepping in on the right side of defence to cut out dangerous balls and frustrate TelOne’s attempts to build pressure.
By the time the final whistle sounded the Harare side were celebrating more than just three points.
They had arrived in Kwekwe still smarting from the heavy defeat to Scottland in the Castle Challenge Cup and the manner in which they recovered from an early setback suggested a team eager to steady itself at the start of the campaign.
Coach Genesis Mangombe admitted afterwards that the conditions made it difficult to judge much about the football itself.
“I am happy that we collected maximum points away from home,” said Mangombe.
“It was not really a match where you analyse performance because the pitch was badly affected by the rain. It was difficult for the players in many aspects, so today it was more about fighting for the result and we managed to do that.”
For TelOne coach Herbert Maruwa the afternoon left a sense of frustration, particularly after his side had struck first and looked briefly capable of building something from that early advantage.
“It is always painful to lose, especially at the beginning of the season,” he said.
“But the pitch was very difficult for the kind of football we wanted to play. We cannot blame the players too much. We go back, work on the mistakes and prepare for the next match.”
Dynamos will also take encouragement from the performances of some of their new faces, several of whom looked comfortable in the demanding conditions as they begin settling into the squad.
In the end, on a wet afternoon that threatened to be washed away before it even started, Dynamos found enough composure to turn the game around and leave Ascot with the result they desperately needed.
TEAMS
TelOne: Takudzwa Chikosi, Tawanda Macheke, Jerry Chipangura, Marvelous Chigumira (Blessing Matebeck 53 mins), Innocent Mucheneka (Bruno Mtigo 46 mins), Frank Makarati, Tafadzwa Jaravani, Nqobizitha Masuku, Leeroy Murape (Farai Matatu 73 mins), Zibusiso Ruguchu, Panashe Mtasa (Tyrone Matongorere 46 mins)
Dynamos: Tatenda Makoni, Shadreck Nyahwa, Jairos Kasondo (Elton Njini 74 mins), Clive Mandivei, Perfect Chikwende, Collin Mujuru, Frank Agyemang (Tellmore Pio 85 mins), Isaac Landu (Tendaishe Magwaza 46 mins), Stanley Billiat (Witness Shave 85 mins), Christopher Nettey
Ascot Stadium is in Gweru and not in Kwekwe.