Sundaymail Editor
Langton Nyakwenda in BULAWAYO
Bulawayo Chiefs……………… …………………….0
Dynamos ………………………………………………2
GHANAIAN import, Emmanuel Paga, scored his first goal for Dynamos, who registered their third win of the season, in an eventful Castle Lager Premier Soccer League tie against Bulawayo Chiefs at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday.
Bulawayo Chiefs finished the match a man short after Obriel Chirinda was sent off, a few minutes after missing a penalty that had been hotly disputed by the Dynamos players and their fans.
There was a 15-minute stoppage in the second half as DeMbare players threatened to walk off the pitch in protest against Hwange referee Hardly Ndazi’s decision to award the hosts a penalty in the 62nd minute.
Some irate Dynamos fans threw missiles onto the pitch and the situation only returned to normal after the intervention of the police. When calm returned, after 15 minutes of chaos, Chirinda’s spot kick was saved by a diving Taimon Mvula.
A few moments later, Chirinda turned into the Fall Guy when the former Chicken Inn man was red carded for a second bookable offence.
Super substitute Bill Antonio then put the game to bed deep in injury time, benefitting from another howler by Bulawayo Chiefs goalkeeper David Bizabani, who miscued the ball under no pressure at all.
It was also Antonio’s first league goal for DeMbare and maiden strike by the former Prince Edward School learner in the Premiership.
Bizabani was as good a villain as Chirinda in yesterday’s match as he also gifted DeMbare their first goal, when Paga struck after 31 minutes.
The goalkeeper rushed out of his area but he misjudged the height of the ball and Paga sneaked in to slot the ball into an empty net. Dynamos coach, Tonderai Ndiraya, who was relieved to pick up his first league win in three matches, handed big Nigerian striker Alex Oromotal his debut.
The Nigerian had a slow start and only picked up a bit in the second half.
He displayed some bits of trickery that belied his huge frame, doing some step overs before drawing a fine save from Bizabani in the 51st minute, who tipped his shot out for a corner.
DeMbare nearly got a second goal from the resultant corner kick, with Keith Murera failing to tap in from the blind side.
However, Antonio came off the bench to seal the deal deep in injury time.
That was after some chaos sparked by Ndazi’s decision to award Chiefs a penalty when Emmanuel Jalai was adjudged to have handled in the box.
Ndiraya, however, praised Ndazi for “handling the match well.”
“Save for that incident, I thought the referee handled the match of this magnitude well. “I thought we had a good first half and I am happy for Paga who scored his first goal.
“I am also happy for Antonio who scored his first goal,” said Ndiraya.
The Dynamos gaffer also praised his counterpart, Nilton Terroso, for the way he has moulded Bulawayo Chiefs into a formidable side.
Ndiraya restored the versatile Godknows Murwira back into the starting line-up and the Warriors fringe player responded with a decent performance at the base of the midfield.
Chiefs coach, Terroso, blamed the defeat on a lethargic first half show.
“First half we didn’t do well, we didn’t get our marking well, our positioning was poor,” said a disappointed Terroso.
Chiefs were the better team at the beginning of the second half but failed to capitalise on that temporary dominance.
They will also look back at those two howlers by their ‘keeper with concern.
Their Portuguese gaffer also expressed shock over the incidences that led to the 15-minute stoppage.
“Honestly I have never seen anything like that.
“I asked my players what was going on, I was asking the officials, the technical team. Honestly I have never seen something like that before,” he said.
TEAMS:
Bulawayo Chiefs: D. Bizabani, I. Nekati, E. Moyo, K. Madzongwe, L. Ndlela, O. Chirinda, M. Mkolo, M. Msebe (A. Musiyiwa 90th), K. Moyo, P. Chikwende (0. Chirinda 90th) F Matare (A. Dela 90th)
Dynamos: T. Mvula, E. Jalai, B. Mpofu, F. Makarati, P. Jaure, K. Murera, R. Kawondera, E. Paga (B. Paga 90th) T. Muringai, G. Murwira, A. Orotomal (E. Katema 90th)
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