Chronicle Editor
Tadious Manyepo
Harare Bureau
Caps United 0-2 Dynamos
FOR once the vibe matched what derbies are supposed to be like in this Castle Lager Premier Soccer League duel at the National Sports Stadium.
Fans, about 27 000 of them came in colourful hordes to add to the euphoria.
And the teams’ performance on the field of play was befitting of a showdown of this magnitude.
It was DeMbare who bagged the points and the bragging rights at the end with Man-of-the-Match Donald “Kante” Mudadi and Jayden Bakare getting the goals for the Glamour Boys in the opening half.
The Green Machine ended the match with 10 men following the expulsion of left-back Innocent Zambezi for a second bookable offence just past the hour mark.
The Lloyd Chitembwe charges, who had the upper hand in the second stanza would feel maybe they should have turned the game upside down had Zambezi not been red-carded at that crucial stage.
Makepekepe were looking to wrestle back top spot on the log standings with a victory over DeMbare while the latter needed the victory to stay within reach of the leading pack.
While the Green Machine were yet to taste defeat in six outings this season, the Glamour Boys were still smarting from a morale-sapping defeat to Bulawayo Chiefs last week.
The DeMbare players were always first on the ball, always won the second ball and came out on top in most duels.
It wasn’t surprising when they surged ahead at the half-hour mark after Matindife made full use of a blunder by Blessing Sarupinda, retrieving the ball and racing towards goal before releasing Mudadi.
The latter, who was playing a more advanced midfield role with Makunike anchoring, coolly controlled the ball before firing past a badly exposed Caps United goalkeeper Tonderai Mateyaunga to spark wild celebrations.
Mudadi, who reminded everyone good ball players are still found in the country would return, eight minutes later with a left-footed shot which Mateyaunga failed to handle first time allowing Bakare to head home the rebound to open his scoring account in DeMbare colours.
Makepekepe came from the break a completely transformed side, retaining possession well especially after the introduction of Clive Rupiya and Adrian Silla for the ineffective Chafa and Sarupinda.
But Dynamos managed the game well restricting Makepekepe from having deadly raids at their goal area.
And in the 63rd minute, any hope of a come-back for Makepekepe was up in smoke with the dismissal of Zambezi.
Dynamos coach Herbert Maruwa saluted his charges.
“It was a good result like what I have been saying. When we were getting negative results, we were still playing good football.
“We have good youngsters coming up so basically we needed patience,” said Maruwa.
“I give credit to the midfield, maybe the youngsters including Junior (Makunike), Tanaka (Shandirwa) and Donald (Mudadi). They managed to curtail the more experienced guys. I think that’s where we won the game.
“I am happy we managed keep the clean sheet. The last time we conceded three goals and I think that’s the last time we have conceded so many goals (this season).
His opposite number Lloyd Chitembwe was naturally disappointed.
“It was one kind of a game that we lost in the first-half. I thought we lost so many many duels, one versus one. We were slow and those guys were much quicker than us,” said Chitembwe.
“That’s the reason we had to make changes at half-time. I think that’s how we lost it.
Teams
Caps United: Tonderai Mateyaunga, Godknows Murwira, Innocent Zambezi, Kelvin Madzongwe, Ben Musaka, Devon Chafa (Silla 46 mins), Phineas Bamusi, William Manondo, Blessing Sarupinda (Rupiya 46 mins), Rodwell Chinyengetere, Thulani Joseph
Dynamos: Taimon Mvula, Emmanuel Jalai, Elvis Moyo, Kevin Moyo, Frank Makarati, Tanaka Shandirwa, Junior Makunike, Donald Mudadi (Mukamba 82 mins), Tendai Matindife (Mpofu 68 mins), Keith Madera (Chintuli 64 mins), Jayden Bakare (Paga 64 min)s. — @manyepotaddy3
Bongani Ndlovu