Online Reporter
Zimpapers Sports Hub
DYNAMOS’ great escape, Scottland’s fall from grace, Simba Bhora’s stumble, MWOS and Ngezi’s comeback and TelOne’s show of firepower.
These were just some of the mind-blowing stories from yesterday’s Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) matches that left fans reeling.
For Dynamos, the ghosts of relegation might just be loosening their grip.
In a match dripping with drama, the Harare giants staged a stirring 3-2 comeback against title contenders Scottland at a packed Rufaro yesterday, a result that not only revived their survival hopes, but also ripped open the PSL title race.
Scottland, riding on a seven-match winning streak, thought they were marching towards another triumph when Tymon Machope powered home a 37th-minute header.
For much of the first half, the Mabvuku side looked every bit like champions in waiting, despite trailing leaders Simba Bhora by a point before yesterday’s matches.
But the second half belonged to Dynamos.
Shadreck Nyahwa’s equaliser three minutes after the restart sparked belief, before Vusa Ngwenya’s crisp strike in the 58th minute flipped the contest on its head.
Scottland clawed back through Machope again, his seventh goal in four matches, and with Rufaro trembling, it seemed they might still escape.
Enter Denver Mukamba.
The mercurial midfielder, summoned from the bench, unleashed a thunderous volley in the 82nd minute that sent the Mbare stands into chaos and sealed one of the biggest upsets of the season.
Coach Kelvin Kaindu hailed the win as more than just three points.
“This was a massive win for us, not just an ordinary one,” he said.
“The team showed incredible character and determination. To beat a Scottland team that has been on a winning run shows we are building confidence.
“For the first time, we’re moving up in the standings, and that makes this very significant.”
On Mukamba, Kaindu said: “We knew if we gave Denver a chance, he could be a game-changer. He came on with the mentality of a commander and delivered the winning goal.”
Scottland coach Tonderai Ndiraya could only admit his men fell flat.
“We knew Dynamos would bring intense energy, especially with their fans behind them, but we didn’t expect it to overwhelm us this much.
“Our performance was flat and casual; we never played to our usual standard,” he said.
The defeat ended Scottland’s surge and shifted momentum across the table.
Simba Bhora survive
GreenFuel ambush
In Chisumbanje, champions Simba Bhora staggered, but held onto top spot after a goalless stalemate with relegation threatened GreenFuel.
The Shamva side were lucky to escape with a point, their two-point lead at the summit preserved only by Scottland’s slip.
GreenFuel pounded the champions all afternoon.
Blessing Kagudu’s thunderbolt, Garikai Dematsika’s near miss and Clive Rupiya’s darting runs carved chance after chance, but the net refused them.
Simba failed to register a single shot on target, their attack so toothless that coach Joel Luphahla was dismissed to the stands for dissent.
GreenFuel assistant coach Godfrey Tamirepi sighed at the final whistle.
“We really wanted an outright win. We were in control of the game and created a lot of good chances, but we couldn’t make sure the ball crossed the line.
“We need to keep working on our finishing,” he said.
For GreenFuel, the point left them stuck on 28 points and deep in trouble. For Simba, it was survival, not a statement.
MWOS back in business
At Ngoni, MWOS finally broke a 57-day winless streak with a 2-1 win over Chicken Inn that dragged them back into the title conversation.
Everson Feremba, given his first start of the season, needed just a minute to announce himself, before Arthur Banda’s second half strike sealed the win.
Michael Charamba had briefly restored hope for Chicken Inn, but their season continues to unravel.
MWOS coach Lloyd Mutasa exhaled relief.
“Obviously, it was a bad spell and at the end of the day we knew it was going to end. But we never got it easy,” he said.
“We were playing against a team under the tutelage of my elder, Antipas, a good experienced coach, former national team coach as well. But at least we managed to overcome.”
Chicken Inn coach Joey Antipas, whose side sit dangerously near the drop zone, admitted it was another stumble.
“Today was one of those bad days in the office. The results haven’t been good, especially away. But we need to put things right. We will definitely survive relegation,” he said.
Benhura breaks Platinum
Derby at the death
At Baobab, Takunda Benhura’s stoppage time strike decided the Platinum Derby, giving Ngezi Platinum Stars a 1-0 win over FC Platinum and reigniting their championship push.
FC Platinum boss Norman Mapeza was crestfallen.
“It’s disappointing. With a bit of luck we could have scored, especially in the second half. But we have to keep fighting. It’s part of the game,” he said.
Ngezi coach Takesure Chiragwi saluted his players’ resilience.
“We are now getting results because of our fighting spirit.
“Any slip-up means we go down, so we have to keep working as a team. Anything can happen in football if we keep this mentality,” he said.
The win lifted Ngezi to 46 points, while FC Platinum’s title hopes are slipping away at 40 points, but with a game in hand.
Elsewhere, at Gibbo Stadium, TelOne produced the most ruthless display of the day, annihilating Bikita Minerals 4-0 to strengthen their top four credentials and heap more misery on the struggling lithium miners.
With seven games left, the PSL has been thrown into a frenzy, and the finish line will not forgive the faint-hearted.
