DeMbare through

From Eddie Chikamhi in GABORONE, Botswana
Mochudi Centre Chiefs . .  (0) 1
Dynamos . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  (1) 1(Dynamos win 4-1 on aggregate)

HARARE giants Dynamos are through to the first round of the Caf Champions League despite playing a draw against Mochudi Centre Chiefs at the National Stadium in Gaborone yesterday.

DeMbare, who won the first leg 3-0 in Harare last week, could have easily completed a double over their opponents after Ronald Chitiyo had given them the upper hand two minutes before the break but they conceded late in the second half when big striker Onaletshata Tshekiso levelled   terms.

The result, however, was still good enough for Callisto Pasuwa’s men who took a 4-1 aggregate victory. DeMbare took the lead just before the half-time break when midfielder Chitiyo finished off a fine move started by Masimba Mambare on the right wing.

Mambare beat two defenders and received the return pass before squaring the ball back into the box. The ball found Chitiyo in the right place and the former Monomotapa man made no mistake from close range much to the delight of the DeMbare fans, who out numbered their opponents by far.

Chitiyo, who had a rather quiet first half before upping the tempo in the second period, fired the ball home with a rising effort that beat goalkeeper Raphael Nthwane to give DeMbare the lead.

From then on it meant the hosts needed to score five goals while shutting out Dynamos in the second half, a feat that looked impossible.
Chiefs, however, found the equaliser from second half substitute Onaletshata Tshekiso, who beat George Chigova to his near post with a ferocious right-footer on the 70th minute.

The DeMbare defence, which had done well to repel their opponents for the most part of the game, were caught off-guard as the big forward ghosted in from the right, barely nine minutes after he was thrown into the fray.

Chiefs threw in everything at their opponents after this goal but Dynamos were not troubled though as they defended their goal area with much integrity well into the last seven minutes of added time.

The Harare giants will now meet AS Vita from the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the first round.  AS Vita won their tie against Kano Pillars 4-3 on aggregate.

The first leg of the first round will be played at the end of this month with the return leg set for the first week of March.
Pasuwa handed midfielder Walter Mukanga his first start, playing alongside Stephen Alimenda as twin defensive links and the former

Chicken Inn man did his best to justify his inclusion as he was involved heavily early on, both in defensive duties as well as when going forward. His cross into the box in the 20th minute could have given the Zimbabwean champions the opener but the ball rolled across the face of goal as midfielder Mambare missed a good opportunity while in full flight.

Chiefs coach Dragojlo Stagnolovic kept confidence in the team that played in Harare last week as they hoped for a miraculous comeback yesterday. The home side appeared to thrive more from the wings, sending in a flurry of crosses early on but they could not find the breakthrough.

Their veteran midfielder, Pontsho Moloi, was always a threat to the De- Mbare defence. The home team had their first attack after three minutes but their midfielder Lemponye Tshireletso failed to connect from a high ball at the back post, sending his effort wide after Moloi had flighted in high ball that evaded the Dynamos defence.

But DeMbare, who enjoyed warm backing of a group of their supporters who travelled all the way to Gaborone and the other Zimbabweans based in Botswana, seized the control of the game quickly with some exciting football.

Roving rightback Oscar Machapa’s shot was always rising when the Harare giants launched a quick counter-attack after defending from a corner at the quarter of an hour.

Machapa made a spirited run on the right and received some assistance from Mambare along the way but could not keep his final effort down.

Dynamos’ Sydney “Tingo” Linyama then made a crucial block just inside the box to deny Tshireletso a crack at goal after the midfielder had found an opening in a crowded box after 19 minutes.

Chiefs continued to search for the goals in the second half but Moloi sent his effort over the bar after getting to the end of Elvis Meleka flick inside the box seven minutes after the restart.

Teams

Mochudi Centre Chiefs: R. Nhtwane, P. Moloi (Mmualebhe, 79th minutes), S. Molebatsi, K. Mophane, A. Chaka,T. Khunwane, E. Meleka, P. Lenyeletse (Tshekiso, 67th minute), O. Pilane, B. Fraser, L. Tshireletso (Galenamotlhale, 55th minute).

Dynamos: G. Chigova, O. Machapa, A. Mbara, P. Jaure, S. Linyama, S. Alimenda, T. Muparati (T. Rusike, 63rd minute), W. Mukanga, M. Mambare (C. Sekete, 77th minute), R. Chitiyo, W. Pakamisa (S. Sithole, 68th minute)