adminDYNAMOS striker Roderick Mutuma, struck the winning penalty as the champions, who were stretched by the bottom-placed team, lived another day in the Mbada Diamonds Cup setting up an explosive encounter with Gunners in the next round.
The Mbada Diamonds Cup holders nearly suffered the ignominy of first round exit as they were held to a surprising draw by a determined Quelaton.
But sadly for the visitors, Timothy January and Proud Zireni failed to convert the third and fourth spot kicks to bow out of this prestigious Cup with their heads high. Dynamos midfield darling Denver Mukamba, who had scored the team’s goal during open play, however, missed the fourth penalty when he shot weakly at Quelaton keeper Tapiwa Marime.
But it was advantage for Dynamos when Quelaton’s Zireni blasted his effort over the bar and all the responsibility to take the fifth kick fell on Mutuma who had come in for Martin Vengesayi in the second period.
And the lanky striker kept his cool to convert and send a big crowd at Rufaro into delirium.
The crowd had been silenced in the 80th minute when striker Eddy Nkhulungo equalised when he converted a Wilberforce Charamba throw in, which took a bounce in front of Dynamos goalkeeper George Chigova.
Dynamos midfielder Devon Chafa, defender Ocean Mushure and Tawanda Mparati scored the first three penalty kicks, which were well executed. For Quelaton Simba Manwere and Mhleli Sibanda also converted their first two spot kicks with well taken kicks.
Dynamos young defender Partson Jaure was named Mbada Diamonds Cup man of the match and got $500.
Quelaton coach Farai Sibanda said he was satisfied with the team’s performance despite the defeat.
“We couldn’t even score a goal in all the matches we played. Today, I am happy and I know where to start. We are still geared to fight back and can really talk about relegation when I am left with five matches. My players really played well but at the end of the day there has to be a winner,” said Sibanda.
Dynamos coach Callisto Pasuwa conceded that his charges struggled with their play.
“They thought they had won already. We had so many chances in the first half but at the end of the day they had to fight for a win.
“They (Quelaton) had one striker and three central midfielders so we were having problems in our middle of the park. Denver and Mabvura were not tucking in when without the ball and we had two strikers in front who were second to the ball,” said Pasuwa.
The coach added that former Mamelodi Sundowns forward Simba Sithole is yet to regain full fitness. Quelaton, who were knocking the ball in the opening period, could have drawn first blood in the fourth minute when Nkhulungo’s shot had to be blocked by Guthrie Zhokinyi.
And on the quarter hour mark, Mukamba made a spirited run and left his marker on the flank and crossed into the box but the ball disappointingly found no takers with Farai Mupasiri slow to react.
But four minutes later, Mukamba was on target when he benefited from a mix-up by the Quelaton keeper and his defenders and shot into the empty net to give the hosts an early lead.
The lead did not count for much, as the champions played boring football failing to string meaningful passes. Maybe the fact that the match was being televised live on SuperSport had an effect on the players. On the 45th minute, Mparati could have made it two but wasted a chance when he found himself with the ball in front of goal, but chose to shoot weakly into the hands of Quelaton keeper Marime.
Pasuwa then made a double substitution, taking off Mpasiri and Vengesayi who were replaced by Sithole and Mutuma early into the second half.
The move did not quickly pay off as the team continued to have a poor showing. Here and there the man of the moment Mukamba had his runs but the second goal remained elusive and it was Quelaton who were rewarded towards the end.
Former CAPS United forward Sithole, also had chances but the player, who is still low on confidence after returning from South Africa where he did not kick a ball at the Pretoria-based Mamelodi Sundowns, is not yet in the groove.
Dynamos left back Ocean Mushure nearly scored a sucker punch deep into added time when his long range shot was blocked for a corner.
With the crowd silenced by the way events had turned out, it was time for silent prayers at Rufaro as the match went into the dreaded penalty shootout.
Teams
Dynamos: G. Chigova, O. Mushure, P. Jaure, G. Zhokinyi, T. Magorimbo, D. Chafa, T. Mparati, D. Mukamba, T. Mabvura, F. Mupasiri(S. Sithole 49th minute), M. Vengesayi (R. Mutuma 49th minute),
Quelaton: T. Marime, W. Chiramba, S. Dube, S. Zibusisiso, I. Kutsanzira (T. Mugumanya 55th minute), G. Mleya, M. Sibanda, T. Moyo, P. Zireni, T. January, E. Nkhulungo (S. Manwere 85th minute).
Mbada Diamonds Cup Results at glance:
Yesterday: Dynamos 1, Quelaton 1 (Dynamos won 4-2 on penalties); Buffaloes 2, Black Mambas 1; Chicken Inn 2, Gunners 3; Shabanie Mine 1, Hwange 0;
Saturday: Monomotapa 3, Hardbody 2; Highlanders 2, Blue Rangers 1; FC Platinum 3, Harare City 0; CAPS United 1, Motor Action 0.
Quarter-finals
CAPS United v Buffaloes, Dynamos v Gunners
FC Platinum v Shabanie Mine, Highlanders v Monomotapa.
derick.khumalo
Online Reporter