Dynamos, Gunners draw

NORMAN Maroto scored a vital second half goal to earn his side Gunners a share of the spoils with Dynamos in a lively Premiership tie at Rufaro yesterday.
Maroto’s goal cancelled Dynamos opener in the first half a flashing header by defender Brighton Tuwaya. It was a game of two halves with Dembare dominating the opening period and Gunners taking control of the second half.
Four minutes before the breather, Dynamos who were firing from all cylinders led by Murape Murape who put up a commanding show took the lead.
Wonder Sithole’s clever corner kick was met with a flashing header by Tuwaya who outjumped Gunners defence to beat Tafadzwa Dube.
A half time pep talk by Gunners coach Darlington Dodo and second half substitutions, the introductions of Nathan Ziwini and Patrick Makuvaza, changed the complexion of the game and it turned out in the favour of Gunners.
In the 63rd minute, some good exchange of passes saw skillful Ali Sadiki sending an inviting cross to Maroto whose volley caught Arubi off-guard to level the scores.
The match kicked off 15 minutes late because of the late arrivals of Mutare match officials saw the first half belong to Elvis Chiweshe’s men.
As early as the fourth minute, star of the show Murape ran through the middle of the park before cleverly laying the ball to disappointing Eddie Mashiri who skied his shot with the goal yawning.
Barely a minute after Mashiri’s miss, Murape was once again involved in Dynamos raids setting up captain Desmond Maringwa, whose cracker was saved by an alert Dube.
Mashiri continued to miss chances and in the eighth minute, Maringwa shrugged off the challenge of his marker and fed Mashiri who shot wide with Dube beaten.
“I am happy with the performance of my players despite failing to collect maximum points. They gave their best shot but luck was not on our side to win the tie. It was a game of two halves with Dynamos dominating and us taking control of the second half. The problem I noticed in the first half was that we gave DeMbare too much room to operate hence I had to change the game plan.
“We suffocated the space they were using and the substitutions made the difference in the second period. Before we face the same opponents on Sunday in the Zaoga Cup semi-final, we have to polish our strikeforce,” Dodo said.
Dynamos’ assistant coach Simon Chuma lamented the failure to have a killer instinct in front of goal.
“We played well in the first half but we missed clear chances and we should have buried Gunners in opening half. Our players took turns to miss chances as we were creating scoring opportunities and five of them were clear chances.
The draw left Dynamos with 34 points on second place, eight points adrift of leaders Mighty Bulls who have amassed 42 points.
Teams:
Dynamos: W. Arubi, P. Sithole, B. Tuwaya, D. Maringwa (M. Makopa 61 minutes), E. Mashiri (D. Kutyauripo 59 minutes), M. Murape, W. Sithole (D. Chivandire 80 minutes), B. Marere, G. Zhokinyu, M. Mahala, T. Mamvura
Gunners: T. Dube, R. Kola, Q. Amini, C. Mukuruva (N. Ziwini 46 minutes), I. Lawe (P. Makuvaza 46 minutes), N. Maroto, E. Meleka, D. Vheremu, P. Chinungwa, D. Rediyoni, A. Sadiki.