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Defender Augustine Mbara found the solitary goal that separated the two teams in the 59th minute with a powerful grounder to the far left of the diving goalkeeper Blessing Mwandimutsira, following an exchange of passes between Partson Jaure and exciting midfielder Russell Madamombe.
Mbara, who was also on target against the same opponents in the quarter-finals of the BancABC Sup8r Cup two weeks ago, was the unlikely hero yesterday as the DeMbare strikers took turns to waste away numerous scoring opportunities that came their way.
DeMbare were coming from a 1-0 defeat to How Mine last week and Pasuwa said the win was crucial to keep their title defence alive as they rose to second place on the table with 31 points.
Pasuwa admitted he missed the injured forwards Washington Pakamisa and Patrick Khumbula and playing with lone striker Clive Kawinga proved ineffective in front of goal.
The second-half reshuffle, which brought in the pair of Farai Mupasiri and Allan Tavarwisa, also failed to produce results, despite coming agonisingly close on occasions.
Kawinga struggled to put the ball under control earlier on, but it was the missed opportunity by Boban Zirintusa in the 13th minute that set the tone for a disappointing afternoon for the Dynamos forwards.
A long ball by George Chigova found Kawinga deep inside the Buffaloes territory and the former Eagles and CAPS United man did well to set up Zirintusa, who was unmarked inside the penalty box.
Although the Ugandan appeared to be in an off-side position, the far side assistant referee Albert Dube kept his flag down and Zirintusa could only send his effort horribly wide with the open goal at his mercy.
About five minutes later, Kawinga did well when he turned under a strong challenge from the Buffaloes defenders and unleashed a threatening shot that was only punched back into play by the goalkeeper before the visitors cleared their lines.
There were no serious goalmouth action from then on, but DeMbare came back from the breather more purposeful with the introduction of Mupasiri to add pace in attack.
Kawinga could count himself unlucky when his lobbed effort soon after the restart was nodded out to safety by Buffaloes defender Phillip Chandisaita with the goalkeeper, sprawling on the ground, already beaten.
Mbara then sent a high ball into the Buffaloes’ box which the defenders could not decisively deal with in the 56th minute.
Kawinga and Madamombe threw themselves into the melee that ensued, but nothing came out of it as Buffaloes scrambled the ball out with their goalkeeper, again down injured in a desperate attempt for clearance.
Substitute Cliff Sekete nearly scored direct from a corner soon afterwards as the ball, which appeared to have deceived the goalkeeper and his defenders, crashed against the upright and bounced back into play.
This prompted the DeMbare players and supporters to suspect that Buffaloes had planted juju on their goal and bottles containing liquids believed to be urine were thrown onto the pitch from the terraces.
The DeMbare players responded by kicking the bottles into the visitors nets as the Harare giants prepared to take another corner.
Two minutes later it appeared the trick had worked as Mbara, who rarely scores for Dynamos, found the winner as he unleashed a scorcher that troubled the goalkeeper from just outside the box.
Tavarwisa twice could have done better to give Dynamos the cushion they needed, but he could not find his feet in the 77th minute.
Sekete made a brilliant solo effort into the Buffaloes half in a counter-attack and squared the ball for the burly forward who stumbled and rammed into the advancing goalkeeper.
With two minutes remaining on the clock, Tavarwisa again found himself at the end of a good cross by Madamombe, but his powerful header came off the woodwork from close range.
“Having lost last weekend we wanted those points on board. We missed so many chances but the good part of it is that we managed to collect the three points,” said Pasuwa.
Buffaloes striker Steven Sibanda had probably the best chance of the afternoon to salvage a point for his team when he capitalised on a defensive blunder by Gift Bello in the 75th minute but the usually dependable striker could not hold his nerves as his tame shot was blocked back into play by goalkeeper Chigova in a one-on-one situation.
Buffaloes created fewer chances and Jacob Muzokomba’s long range shot was easily dealt with by Chigova in the 68th minute.
Buffaloes coach Timothy Masachi said they had hoped to contain Dynamos and then catch them on the break and blamed a lapse in concentration for the letdown of their game plan.
“The goal that we conceded made the difference. I think our defenders did not press hard on Mbara as they allowed him space to take a crack at goal.
“We also missed a good chance had Sibanda got it right in that one-on-one situation with the goalkeeper. At least we could have drawn that game,” said Masachi.
Teams
Dynamos: G. Chigova, M. Kadzola (C. Sekete, 54th minute), A. Mbara, G. Bello, P. Jaure, S. Alimenda, T. Magorimbo, B. Zirintusa (F. Mupasiri, 48th minute), R. Madamombe, T. Muparati, K. Kawinga (A. Tavarwisa, 73rd minute)
Buffaloes:
B. Mwandimutsira, N. Musvipa, S. Nyauzima, T. Ndlovu, P. Chandisaita, P. Alfasi, T. Mareya (R. Mwenga, 75th minute), A. Dzumbunu (L. Katongomara, 68th minute), W. Sithole, J. Muzokomba, S. Sibanda
Online Reporter