malvernmugadzikwa
Bulawayo Bureau
Dynamos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 1
Simba Bhora . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
GHANAIAN forward Emmanuel Paga finally ended his five-month goal drought when he scored his second goal for Dynamos this season at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday to send the Harare giants into the Chibuku Super Cup quarter-finals.
Paga is currently having an indifferent season.
He has one league goal — scored in a 4-0 demolition of Sheasham at the National Sports Stadium in March — in 18 Premiership matches.
Yesterday, he atoned for what has largely been a poor first half of the season, when he found the goal that made the difference against Simba Bhora, who finished the game with 10 men.
Paga was introduced as a second-half substitute for the ineffective Issa Sadiki on the hour mark and struck the winner seven minutes later after getting to the end of a Junior Makunike pass.
However, the major talking point was the expulsion of Simba Bhora substitute Vaselli Kawe.
The player, who had been introduced at the beginning of the second half, was red-carded for retaliation.
Dynamos made full use of their numerical advantage and took the game to Simba Bhora.
They, however, could have scored more goals had they not been restricted by resolute defending by the Simba Bhora defence, which was marshalled by ex-Dynamos captain Partson Jaure, as well as some alert goalkeeping by Simba Chinani.
Chinani had earlier made a brilliant double save in the 42nd minute to thwart Donald Mudadi and Finland-bound Elton Chikona.
The win was a perfect start for Genesis Mangombe, who was elevated from being assistant to caretaker coach following the sacking of Herbert Maruwa earlier last week.
Mangombe’s assistant, Lloyd Chigowe, was ejected from the technical bench eight minutes into the game, as he has not yet secured the mandatory Premier Soccer League licence.
In the end, that mattered little.
“Genesis (his name) means the beginning,” he said.
“Someone said we have not won this competition since its re-introduction. This time, we want to work hard and see what we can achieve. We knew it was a derby and, at the same time, a cup competition. I am happy the boys did well after the second-half substitutions.
“Our game plan was to use fast wingers, and the plan worked, as we managed to run their defence down in the first half, and things were easier for Paga when he came on in the second half.
“Their defence had been exhausted. Going into the next round of fixtures, we have to make sure we are clinical in front of goal.”
Simba Bhora coach Tonderai Ndiraya felt his side should have used the half chances that came their way.
“We are out. But we really wanted to progress to the next round. It was a difficult match but one that was interesting at the same time.
“When you play big teams like Highlanders, CAPS United and Dynamos, if you don’t take away the chances that you get, then you get punished. Dynamos got their chance and used it,” said Ndiraya.
Both sides had a slow start to the game, but DeMbare proved to be the better one in the second stanza.
The first half saw Dynamos come close through man-of-the-match Tanaka Shandirwa, whose effort was saved by Chinani.
A minute later, Dynamos vice captain Emmanuel Jalai also had his effort from outside the box saved by Chinani.
Simba Bhora will probably also rue the moment of madness by the towering Kawe, who was sent off for a retaliation on Makunike.
Teams:
Dynamos: P Tafiremutsa, D Mudadi (Ilunga 60th minute), K Moyo, E Moyo, F Mukarati, J Makunike (S Nyahwa 81st minute), E Jalai, E Chikona (D Mukamba 81st minute), S Sadiki (Paga 60th minute), K Madera (A Musiyiwa 60th minute), T Shandirwa.
Simba Bhora: S Chinani, R Kangadzi, P Jaure, A Manenji, I Nyanhi (H Chikosi), P Chigulupate (V Kawe 45th minute), T Chipunza, R Chitiyo (T Chawapiwa 73rd minute, (H Manatsa 81st minute), T Machope (A Mandinyenya 45th minute), T Balakasi, K Murera
Chibuku Super Cup 1st Round Results
Dynamos 1 — 0 Simba Bhora
FC Platinum 4 — 0 Yadah
Ngezi Platinum 2 — 1 Triangle
Chicken Inn 1 — 0 Green Fuel
Manica Diamonds FC 1 — 1 Black Rhinos
(Rhinos won 6-5 on penalties)
Online Reporter