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Augustine Hwata Sports Reporter
Dynamos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (3) 4
Tripple B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
DYNAMOS’ last victory was against Tripple B in a Mbada Diamonds Cup first round match and it had to take the same opponents for the Harare giants to breathe life into their defence of the Castle Lager Premiership soccer campaign at Rufaro yesterday.
Since beating Tripple B 1-0 in the Mbada Diamonds Cup first round at Gibbo on September 28, Dynamos had not won a match as they lost to Hwange and FC Platinum in the league.
DeMbare bowed out of the Mbada Diamonds Cup to How Mine while they shared the spoils with Monomotapa in a league encounter during a spell they had forgotten how to win and pressure was now piling on coach Callisto Pasuwa.
During the barren spell, Dynamos were dislodged by Highlanders at the top of the Premiership table, but yesterday they kept the heat on the pacesetters when they thumped relegation-threatened Tripple B.
Before the game, a section of Dynamos fans had demonstrated around the stadium over the US$5 entry fee for the rest of the ground, arguing that the team was not playing well to justify the hike.
A few fans had already paid their way into the stadium before the charges were slashed to US$3, but still the crowd was far from pleasing for a Dynamos home match.
But the fans who came had reason to celebrate after their team took the lead in the ninth minute when Oscar Chove turned the ball into his own net as he attempted to clear a cross from Ocean Mushure on the right. The goal eased Dynamos nerves as they nearly increased the lead a minute later when Stephen Alimenda’s pile-driver crashed against the cross bar.
Ugandan international Boban Zirintusa then increased the home side’s lead in the 20th minute when he beat Tripple B goalkeeper Gilbert Chigwandaza with a close range header after the Tshinja Magiya defenders had failed to clear the ball inside the box.
Dynamos vice captain Tawanda Muparati then struck a brilliant effort when he mesmerised Givemore Fireyi before firing a wonderful goal that hit the back of the net in the 25th minute to ignite wild celebrations from the DeMbare faithful.
Washington Pakamisa then put the match beyond Tripple B’s reach in the 84th minute when he broke his goal drought by finishing off a move engineered by veteran Murape Murape.
Murape, who lasted the whole match running on a rickety pair of 33-year-old legs, charged into the Tripple B half with the ball before dissecting their defence with a fine pass that found Pakamisa who had made an intelligent run into the box.
Pakamisa shook off a challenge from Chove and Phillip Makanje as he drove a low effort past Chigwandaza to end his barren run. The former CAPS United striker’s last goal for Dynamos had come at Sakubva during their 3-2 defeat to Buffaloes in Week 14.
Dynamos remained in second position on the log with 45 points, while Highlanders maintained the lead after a victory over Black Rhinos at Rimuka yesterday. Bosso are on 47 points while both Dynamos and Harare City are two points shy.
The shape of the league championship is likely to take another complexion at the weekend when Highlanders host Dynamos in what could be a blood-and-thunder encounter at Barboufields.
As he got a temporary relief yesterday, Dynamos coach Pasuwa said his players had remembered to bring their shooting boots after a very long time.
“We had been lacking the confidence in scoring goals because we had gone for maybe four games without scoring a goal from open play.
“Today we managed to get two goals in the first half of the match,” said Pasuwa.
Pasuwa showed that he clearly needed the goals to take the monkey off his back when he fielded two outright strikers in Clive Kawinga and the bustling Patrick Khumbula, while attacking midfielders Zirintusa and Muparati increased the pressure.
“For the past three games we have been playing a 4-4-2 formation and we wanted goals. We were playing at home and needed strikers who have got speed when in possession so that we could attack in numbers.”
Pasuwa said he will not get carried away by the victory as the league campaign has now intensified.
“We have to see the way we play in the next coming games,” said Pasuwa on the championship race.
While Pasuwa was happy to pick up the valuable points, Tripple B coach Peter Manoti was left in deeper muddy waters of relegation.
Games are running out for the Beitbridge-based side who are one of the firm candidates for the chop.
“We conceded early goals in the first half and when we concede such silly goals in the first half, we put ourselves under pressure. It’s very difficult to make a comeback in the second half, especially when you are playing away. We tried to come back in the second half and stabilise the match, but the damage had already been done.
“So we were supposed to avoid the early goals conceded otherwise we should have played far much better or even fought for a draw,” said Manoti.
Tripple B had their few chances at goal, but the absence of their chief striker Alick Marime was clearly felt as Ali Kazembe and Makai Kawashu came close to scoring consolation goals while Chigwandaza did well to make a number saves.
Teams
Dynamos: G. Chigova, O. Machapa (T. Magorimbo 60th minute) O. Mushure, G. Bello, P. Jaure, S. Alimenda, B. Ziruntusa, M. Murape, T. Muparati, P. Khumbula (S. Sithole 57th minute), C. Kawinga (W. Pakamisa 57th minute)
Tripple B: G. Chigwani, G. Fireyi, (F. Makambanga 52nd min) O. Chone, E. Mwinga, M. Varisu, T. Mamvura, W. Chingodza ( R. Pavari 86th minute), S. Maengeni (P. Makanje 52nd minute), M, Kawashu, M, Mavuto, A. Kazembe
Online Reporter