Dynamos, Highlanders clash in Chibuku Super Cup semis

Good afternoon Zimbabwe!

Today we give you the final before the final! Giants Dynamos and Highlanders size-up in a Chibuku Super Cup semi-final showdown at Rufaro at 3pm.

Exactly seven days ago, the pair clashed in a league match at Barbourfields, with that match ending in a 1-1 draw.

But there has to be a winner this afternoon who will meet Triangle in the final.

Triangle booked their place in the final when they beat MWOS 2-0 at Ngoni yesterday.

That means the final of the premium cup tournament will pit previous winners as both Dynamos and Highlanders have laid their hands on it before, and so has Triangle.

DeMbare have won the cup in the past two seasons while Highlanders claimed it in 2019, a year after Triangle took the same silverware home.

In this afternoon’s match, Dynamos are missing two of their best players – Denver Mukamba and Jairos Kasondo – through suspension.

The last time the two giants crossed paths in this tournament was in 2019, with Bosso winning the last 16 tie 1-0.

Then, just like now, Dutch coach Pieter De Jongh was the Highlanders coach and that could drive them on.

Dynamos haven’t lost a match since August when former Bosso coach Kelvin Kaindu took charge.

But something has to give this afternoon.

Our Reporter Tadious Manyepo is at Rufaro and will keep you updated.

Enjoy the match!

UPDATE :

Line-Ups

Dynamos Starting XI:

Prince Tafiremutsa, Emmanuel Jalai, Abel Gwatidzo, Clive Mandivei, Issaka Mohammed, Tellmore Pio, Vhusa Ngwenya, Shadreck Nyahwa, Frank Agyemang, Felix Hammond, Leroy Mavunga

Subs: Temptation Chiwunga, Temptation Chiwunga, Enasio Perezo, Valentine Kadonzvo, Alexander Mandinyenya, Keith Madera, Wisdom Mutasa, Tendaishe

Highlanders Starting XI

Ariel Sibanda, Arthur Ndlovu, Brian Mlotshwa, Reason Sibanda, Malvern Hativagoni, Marvin Sibanda, Andrew Mbeba, Never Rauzhi, Darlington Mukuli, Luckmore Mutumbi, Atusaye Nyondo

Subs: Raphel Pitisi, Mvelo Khoza, Melikhaya Ncube, Prince Ndlovu, Tendai Muvuti, Brighton Ncube, Mason Mushore, Learnmore Muyambo, Benjamin Adeogun

UPDATE :

Pre-match rituals done. The Battle of Zimbabwe ready to roar. There has to be a winner!

UPDATE :

Kick-off

Referee Arnold Ncube gets us underway. It is Highlanders who take the centre and straight down they attack. But Dynamos retrieve it. It’s game on.

UPDATE :

Dynamos almost score

A good one-two down the left sees Abel Gwatidzo whipping a good cross which Frank Agyemang tries to turn in only to be blocked for a corner. The set-piece yields nothing. The match has turned out to be lively with DeMbare enjoying most of the ball. But goalless it is after five minutes.

UPDATE :

Dynamos ‘keeper injured

Prince Tafiremutsa comes off worse in an aerial tussle in which he emerged with the ball. He sprawls down but is up as the clock hits 10mins with the scoreboard still clean.

UPDATE :

Dynamos score

What a goal by Jalai. That’s what a captain does. Rufaro erupts. Highlanders complain. The joy starts.

What a game we are having

Dynamos 1-0 Highlanders, 17 mins played

UPDATE :

A piece of brilliance

The goal scored by Dynamos was crafty. Vusa Ngwenya got obstructed. Referee blew the whistle. He never indicated “play to the whistle”. Ngwenya quickly rose up, laid the ball to Jalai. The captain saw Ariel Sibanda was off his line. He chipped it over him. A goal, a genuine goal. But Bosso players mobbed the referee. They wanted Dynamos to play to the whistle. That’s impossible. Pieter De Jongh always complains. He was doing that and ended up overdoing it, and into the ref’s book.

UPDATE :

It’s becoming tense

Ngwenya was elbowed down by Bosso’s Mbeba. Surely the lanky defender deserves a yellow card. But the ref goes for a verbal warning. He needs to manage the tempers, which are flaring on and off the field. Dynamos v Highlanders is always that temperamental.

UPDATE :

Highlanders slowly settling

They are 1-0 down but never unfazed. Highlanders have thrown more men in midfield where they looked flawed. And patiently they are finding their way back. A long range strike from Darlington Mnkuli should have ended up in the net but Tafiremutsa dived well to parry it back. Just five minutes before the break and Dynamos have the slender advantage they are desperately trying to hold onto…

UPDATE :

Three minutes added on

We will play three more minutes before the break.

Dynamos 1-0 Highlanders

UPDATE :

Half Time at Rufaro

Dynamos 1-0 Highlanders

UPDATE :

Second half starts

We are into the last 45 minutes with Dynamos still in the lead

UPDATE :

Highlanders make triple sub

De Jongh knows he has to quickly draw level. And he has thrown in Adeogun, Melikhaya Ncube and Tendai Muvuti for Hativagoni, Marvin Sibanda and Reason Sibanda. They are now defending with three with focus fully fixed forward.

UPDATE :

Dynamos lines up Chiwunga

Combative midfielder Temptation Chiwunga is preparing to come on. He has to for Bosso are now having it all their way. They have fresh legs in and Dynamos, with a slender advantage to protect, looks lost in the heat

UPDATE :

Chiwunga replaces Ngwenya

Chiwunga comes on for Ngwenya. And Dynamos immediately attacks but Hammond makes a real messy, hitting the crossbar when the ‘keeper was way off his line. That should have been the second for DeMbare. They might even leave to regret. This is football and it’s the Battle for Zimbabwe

UPDATE :

Prince Ndlovu is on for Rauzhi

Highlanders have done everything so far except scoring. They have attacked from both flanks and down the middle too. But the goal isn’t coming. They have a good piece in Prince Ndlovu who may solve the puzzle. Will he?

UPDATE :

And Highlanders SCORE!

UPDATE :

It’s all square at Rufaro

Dynamos 1-1 Highlanders

This one was always on its way. Dynamos have let Andrew Mbeba have it his own way for so long. He has been letting them off the hook for too long. But not this time. The towering midfielder is now playing down the right wing. He lofted the ball in and Melikhaya Ncube headed firmly beyond Tafiremutsa’s reflex. What a game we are having. We have 20 more minutes to enjoy

UPDATE :

De Jongh throws more firepower

Highlanders coach De Jongh simply wants it more. He has thrown the fifth and last of his subs. And the man is Brighton Ncube. The big striker is often a handful. Dynamos have responded by introducing Enasio Perezo Jnr for Mavhunga. We have 10 minutes to get a winner or we are going to the penalty lottery

UPDATE :

Dynamos introduces keeper Makoni

We are winding off the clock and surely heading to penalties where goalkeepers need to be the heroes. And Dynamos have introduced Tatenda Makoni, their specialist penalty goalkeeper. He has been the hero for them for the past two years and this season again. He receives a standing ovation as he takes his post. We have only a minute of added time

UPDATE :

We are heading to the penalties

1-1 it ends at Rufaro. No extra time. And we are heading straight to the penalties.

Dynamos, Highlanders are both good in the lottery game

Dynamos and Highlanders both progressed from the quarter-finals via penalties. Bosso constricted Scottland while Dynamos beat ZPC Kariba via penalties. But today, one has to fall off. Who will it be?