Online Reporter
Veronica Gwaze Zimpapers Sports Hub
Dynamos 1-1 Scottland
THIS was probably the biggest and most exciting midweek Premier Soccer League fixture in years.
Almost packed to the rafters as Harare giants Dynamos hosted Scottland, Rufaro was a rainbow of colours yesterday, a cathedral of thousands of fans and a grand theatre of their football dreams.
There was entertainment, flair, intensity and general excitement in the 1-1 draw courtesy of Panashe Mutimbanyoka and Wisdom Mutasa second half goals which gave value for money to the fans who paid their way into the stadium to enjoy every moment of contest.
And it was probably just fair that it ended with a share of the point.
Real action came right in the fourth minute when Dynamos rose with determination, outpacing the Scottland backline before Frank Agyemang threaded a cross into the box but Ben Dauda Sidibe’ s header missed the target.
Scottland would briefly take charge, cooling off the game as they steadily built from the mid with a moderate pace.
After countless moments of trying, Scottland almost found a break in the 12th minute when captain Shadreck Nyahwa’s blunder gave Mthokozisi Msebe advantage with the creative midfielder locating a well positioned Panashe Mutimbanyoka who however missed the empty target after beating Dynamos keeper Tatenda Makoni.
It became a tightly contested affair of compelling drama, nerves, boundless joy and the fears which kept fans on their feet at the almost filled to capacity ceremonial home of football.
Come the 22nd minute, Emmanuel Ziocha got a chance from the left wing beating Tellmore Pio and Abel Gwatidzo before blowing what could have been a perfect chance when directing his shot into Makoni’s hands.
Gwatidzo was to give the Vietnam something to marvel at after finding his way past former defensive partner Emmanuel Jalai and Peter Muduhwa before the left footer placed a cross into the box, but Agyemang’s header was blocked by Nelson Chadya.
Building from the goal kick, Scottland had to bypass the mid before an intelligent Khama Billiat got possession shrugging off Isaac Landu to find the top corner of the net.
However, the linesman had raised his flag for an offside, disallowing the goal taking to the halftime break goalless on both sides.
Returning in the second half, Dynamos needed an early goal building carefully from the centre kick only for Sidibe to be stopped by the crossbar. Surviving the scare, Scottland went on a reset building their play from Chadya.
However, Dynamos defence would not crack. It was not long when a relentless Panashe Mutimbanyoka finally put the visitors on the lead in the 65th minute off a Jalai cross.
Five minutes later, second half substitute Nathan Mutasa provided glamour for Dynamos when coming from left wing to thread a perfect pass between Muduhwa and Kevin Moyo, Sidibe flicking the ball to Wisdom Mutasa to level matters. With the goals, rose intensity of the match and tensions simmered from both camps, but referee Thabani Ruzario remained grounded in his officiating.
To find solutions for his side which had somehow been absorbed by Dynamos, Norman Mapeza introduced Knowledge and Walter Musona for Moses Shidolo and Emmanuel Ziocha. Yet the Glamour Boys still could not be tamed.
However, Muduhwa and Nyahwa would not allow the explosive fixture to end without drama.
The duo came to loggerheads at the death of regulation time, each contesting Ruzario’s decision in what Scottland felt was a handball by Dynamos’Landu, but the referee stuck to his decision before blowing the whistle for fulltime.
Landu was named man of the match for destroying Scottland by managing to ground an often troublesome Billiat throughout the game. At full time, the Vietnam rose to give Dynamos coach
Aristica Cioaba a standing ovation before showering Mutasa with love and some “financial offering”.
Mapeza felt shortchanged by the match officials while also citing that his charges could have done better to collect maximum points.
“ It was a very good game, in the first half I think we should have done better to bury the game because we had good opportunities where the keeper was on break and on a good day we should have collected maximum points,” he said.
“But in the second half, we struggled in the middle,they caught us on the break;it was not like they were really creating something out of anything…we were the better side.
“I don’t think our defensive midfielders drove back to pick up the ball, but at the end of the day, “the guy” spoiled the game for us.
“I don’t want to talk much about it, but everybody saw what was going on. We can’t be seen complaining about the same issues week in, week out.”
On the other hand, Cioaba heaped praises on his side for staging a fine show against the defenders to derail their title run.
“I have to congratulate my players first for respecting our game plan, looking at the fact that we only had two days to rest and recover, I must say this is a fair result,” said Cioaba.
“You could see the drive and passion was maximum, the rhythm excellent and even the opponent made it all exciting because they are a well drilled side, they play a spectacular game.
“Both sides had good moments and a fair share of chances, anyone could have won that game had we utilised the chances created but in the end I think a draw was a fair result.”
After the draw, log leaders Scottland now have 53 points, three ahead of Hardrock while Dynamos are still in third position with 46.
The rickety Rufaro Stadium was almost packed to the rafters? Was it? How many people attended the match in a stadium that is almost a 40 000 capacity although it is being reconfigured to 22 000 with bucket seats being installed? Packed to the rafters? Lol!!