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While most editions of the Harare derby have been decided by a single goal, it got worse for Caps United yesterday when they were once again pummelled into submission by their rivals Dynamos in a Castle Lager Premiership tie.
After yesterday’s 70th version of the derby, DeMbare, who have been roaring as the dominant bull since 2009 kept the pressure on log leader leaders Highlanders while their noisy neighbours Caps United fell to their sixth defeat on the trot.
The match lacked classic excitement expected of the hype that characterised the build up to the match.
Caps United have not won a league match since they beat Hardbody 1-0 at Ascot during round 10 and are now candidates for relegation.
The club fired Irishman Sean Connor but the results have remained elusive for Taurai Mangwiro who succumbed to his third defeat in as many games.
It’s still looking all gloomy for Caps United who travel to Sakubva to play Buffaloes in their next match.
At times one can feel sorry for Caps United players who were confident in the build up to the game but walked away with tears in their eyes yesterday.
Caps United got off the blocks fine and appeared like a well oiled machine with the dream striking partnership of Shingi Kawondera and Evans Gwekwerere leading the search for goals.
But it was in-form striker Farai Mupasiri who gave Dynamos the advantage when he capitalised on a defensive mix up to push the ball home in the 36th minute.
Winger Murape Murape swung a high ball from the right and Mupasiri went for the high ball while Caps United goalkeeper Muzondiwa Gonese collided with his defender Blessing Zabula inside the box.
The goal sent the largely Dynamos crowd into a merry mood and they did not care to feel sorry for Zabula who was receiving medical attention.
There was a four-minute stoppage as Zabula was being attended to and at the restart, Dynamos further increased the lead when once again Murape’s corner kick from the right channel was headed past Gonese by Guthrie Zhokinyi.
Zhokinyi’s goal sent the DeMbare fans into delirium as the defending league champions took a comfortable lead before the break.
After the breather, Caps United tried to claw back into the game but the body language of their players said that they were resigned to yet another defeat.
Only Hardlife Zvirekwi showed life as he tried to open space on the right but was let down by poor finishing.
As time ticked, some Caps United fans started trickling out of the stadium and they did not witness Dynamos’ third goal when Cliff Sekete hit a powerful shot that beat a badly positioned Gonese from the edge of the box. Naturally, Mangwiro was livid over the defeat and believes his players lacked the fighting spirit after conceding the first two goals.
“It becomes more painful when you lose to your bitter rivals by such a magnitude.
“I am very disappointed with this outcome. We started the match very strongly and I think that the guys gave a good fight.
“But there were those two minutes of madness when we conceded two goals and the game turned against us,” said Mangwiro.
When Mupasiri gave DeMbare the lead, Mangwiro had hoped for a comeback only for his players to fall further behind.
“Unfortunately we could not rise after Dynamos doubled their lead.
“The guys should have tried hard but it was not so. Another thing is that were forced to make injury-induced substitutions,” said Mangwiro.
Despite failing to win a match since taking over from Connor, Mangwiro remains confident that Caps United will pull away from the relegation zone.
“We lost the battle but the war is still on.
“Ever since we took over, we have been changing players here and there.
“We have been trying to get a winning formula but it has not been the case.
“It’s only a matter of time before we start winning and if you look at Motor Action, they lost three games but they are now winning,” said Mangwiro.
While Mangwiro was left wondering what hit them, Dembare assistant coach Tonderayi Ndiraya believes they could have won by even five goals.
“It was a game of two halves for me.
“We played well in the first half but we did not do so well in the second half,” said Ndiraya.
Ndiraya paid tribute to his players for getting a positive result over their city rivals.
“They guys were fighting hard for the ball and I think we could have scored four or five goals.
“We wasted numerous clear chances and overall we created better chances than Caps United,” said Ndiraya.
Teams
Caps United: M. Gonese, A. Nhongo, T. Kumbuyani, T. Samanja, R. Kutsanzira, B. Zabula, T. Munyanduri, N. Mukumbi (H. Zvirekwi 46th min), E. Gwekwerere (P. Tafirenyika 62nd min), M. Samaneka (L. Fiyado 46th min), S. Kawondera
Dynamos: G. Chigova, T. Magorimbo, O. Mushure, P. Jaure, G. Zhokinyi, D. Chafa (T. Mamvura min), T. Muparati, D. Mukamba, R. Mutuma, M. Murape (T. Mabvura min), F. Mupasiri
Online Reporter