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Harare Bureau
Caps United…………………………………………………….. 0
Dynamos………………………………………………………….1THE ugly side of football was on display yesterday when what was supposed to be an exciting afternoon for the domestic game in the capital ended in nasty fashion after some dejected Caps United fans rained missiles onto the pitch after seeing their team fall yet again to arch-rivals Dynamos in a high profile Harare derby at Rufaro Stadium yesterday.
Makepeke have not won a league match against their opponents since Easter 2009 and yesterday they had a good opportunity to stop the trend but it was their former son Oscar Machapa who broke their hearts with a well executed strike in the 38th minute.
The match, as was expected, attracted a sell-out crowd and emotions were running high on the terraces as both sets of fans came with huge expectations. And to add to the excitement, the derby had come at a time when both teams were enjoying good form.
But in a sad reflection of the latent problem of hooliganism, emotions took the place of reason from the bay housing predominantly Caps United fans in added time as empty plastic bottles, cabbages and beer cans were hurled onto the pitch in protest over a decision by the referee to award Clive Kawinga a free kick.
The Green Machine, who dropped one place down the ladder to fifth on the log standings and now six points off the pacesetters Dynamos, now risk sanctions from the Premier Soccer League for the rowdy behaviour of some of their fans.
Caps United were also not happy with some decisions by the match officials as they felt undone by a number of incidents, including two appeals for a penalty which were turned down.
However, Dynamos had a slight advantage in the opening half in which they were rewarded with a goal but Caps United were the better side in the second period as they pressed hard for a goal to salvage a point.
Besides maintaining his unbeaten streak against Caps United since he took over the reins at the club, Dynamos coach Callisto Pasuwa was more ecstatic with the maximum points which helped them buttress their position on top of the table. The Glamour Boys now have 41 points as their close rivals Harare City and Highlanders stumbled in their matches.
“As I said before this match, we were playing for points more than anything else. It’s all about points and not playing better football. If we can have those points no matter how we play, it’s good for us. I am happy we collected the three points,” said Pasuwa.
The two-time championship winning coach said Dynamos can now manage some breathing space in the knowledge that the battle is not yet over since there are still nine games to play. DeMbare are aiming for a third straight title under Pasuwa.
But the derby, which appeared to have lost its colour in recent years, yesterday produced some sparks of life as DeMbare negotiated one of the big hurdles in their way. But the Green Machine had the first clearer opportunity barely two minutes into the game when Tawanda Nyamandwe delivered a good cross into the box which defender Gift Bello almost turned into his own goal as he cleared the lines.
Earlier on, the match swung from one end to the other with Ocean Mushure, who was a menace down the left channel, coming close as he shot just wide following a brilliant individual effort about 11 minutes into the game.
Then Hardlife Zvirekwi found himself coming face to face with Dynamos goalkeeper George Chigova in the 19th minute but Partson Jaure made a timely intervention as he pushed the ball out for a corner.
The game appeared evenly balanced although lacking much in goal mouth action until the 38th minute when Machapa took on two defenders and created enough space for himself to take aim at goal with a scorching left-footer that gave goalkeeper Tafadzwa Dube no chance.
The goal breathed some life into the Dynamos family as the Vietnam stand burst into wild cheers and they could have added another before half time had Washington Pakamisa been more precise.
Caps United lifted their game a gear up in the second half with a flurry of crosses from the wings but they could not find the target. The Green Machine felt aggrieved in the 62nd minute when referee Thomas Masaa turned down appeals for penalty when Machapa handled the ball inside the box.
They had another decision going against them in the 70th minute when Nyamandwe was impeded by George Chigova in a goal-mouth melee after the Dynamos goal keeper had made a mess of a cross from the right. Caps continued to surge forward but their industry was not rewarded.
Their coach Taurai Mangwiro felt they could have at least got a point from the game. Mangwiro admitted defeat but fired a broadside at the match official Masaa and his assistants Tapfumanei Mutengwa and Edgar Rumeki.
Online Reporter