Dynamos tame Bulls

(Dynamos won 4-1 on penalties)
WARRIORS international goalkeeper Washington Arubi marked his return to Dynamos duty with a heroic show in the penalty shootout that ensured his side claimed the NetOne Charity Shield against Motor Action at Rufaro yesterday.
Arubi – who was playing his first game for DeMbare this year – blocked two of Motor Action’s penalties to give Lloyd Mutasa’s men their third piece of pre-season silverware.
The Dynamos goalkeeper first stopped Mighty Bulls’ left back Ocean Mushure’s effort before diving to his right to palm away midfielder Allan Gahadzikwa’s penalty.
In turning on the heroics in the penalty lottery, Arubi atoned for a mistake he made in regulation time when he literally connived with Augu-stine Mbara to gift Motor Action their second goal.
Motor Action twice had to come from behind to force the match to extra time, but there was still no winner after 120 minutes of action.
Another returning DeMbare son Murape Murape had struck the ope-ner after 29 minutes before Enasio Perezo brought the Mighty Bulls level 10 minutes later.
Midfielder Timire Mamvura thrust Dynamos into the lead again in the 47th minute, but Masimba Mambare restored parity in the 65th minute to set the stage for tense battle that spilled to penalties.
But DeMbare had the last laugh after converting four spot kicks through Mamvura, Guthrie Zhokinyi, Thomas Magorimbo and Dominic Benati.
The Mighty Bulls, who deserve credit for putting up a spirited fight during open play, nonetheless found the going tough from the spot.
They got off to a terrible start when Arubi guessed right to stop Mushure’s effort.
Arubi was beaten by Themba Ndhlovu who took the Mighty Bulls’ second kick but was back to his best when he saved Motor Action’s third kick taken by Gahadzikwa.
Benati, who was voted Man of the Match, then scored DeMbare’s fourth to send the Dynamos faithful into wild celebrations.
DeMbare coach Lloyd Mutasa made wholesale changes to the team that had been serving a dish of fine passing football in the last three weeks.
The result was a less than inspiring show from his team but Mutasa and his men will still be happy to have kept their winning form intact.
DeMbare looked vulnerable and their fans could have been left unconvinced with their display in the absence of their emerging stars like Denver Mukamba and Archieford Gutu who were rested for this match.
Despite struggling for fluency Dynamos surged ahead when Murape diverted a cross from Mamvura with goalkeeper Jani badly positioned.
The Mighty Bulls however, drew level 10 minutes later when Perezo found some space in the box and fired home from close range.
DeMbare then surged ahead again in the 47th minute when Mamvura converted from the spot after striker Patrick Kumbula was fouled in the box by defender Sam Mutenheri.
Referee Ngoni Boyd, who had a fair share of blunders, pointed to the spot.
Boyd, who had announced his retirement last season, made a surprise appearance in the centre for the season opener but the Harare referee will – on yesterday’s showing -need to work hard on his officiating.
Despite being a goal down, Motor Action kept probing with Kuda Musharu and Enasio Perezo getting more possession inside the Dynamos half. The introduction of Edmore Chitato at the restart seemed to have raised Motor Action’s tempo as they almost had Dynamos on the backfoot.
They could count themselves unlucky when Chitato’s header crashed against the underside of the bar and came off the line before Dynamos scrambled a clearance in the 62nd minute.
But the equaliser eventually came when Mambare robbed Augustine Mbara before chipping over Arubi after a communication breakdown between the goalkeeper and his defender in the 65th minute.
“It was a good game considering that most of these players were playing together as a unit for the first time. I think it’s an indication of the depth in our side.
“We have a large pool of players and everyone deserves a chance.
“As the technical team we also needed to see how some of them can perform in case some of those players who have been playing in our previous games are not available,” said Mutasa.
Motor Action coach Joey Antipas said the match was a good warm-up for their next Champions League assignment against Asec Mimosas this weekend.
“We had a good game after the 120 minutes but it was unfortunate we missed some of our penalties. So it’s tough luck for us but it was a good preparation.
“We have to take the positives and work on some areas from there on,” said Antipas.
Dynamos pocketed US$40 000 for winning while Motor Action took home US$20 000.
Premier Soccer League chairman Twine Phiri saluted NetOne for bankrolling the Charity Shield and expressed his delight at the relationship, which ushers in a new season to be sponsored by Castle Lager.
Net One committed a total package of US$200 000 this year and have promised to maintain their sponsorship of the Charity Shield match for the next three years.
“I would like to thank Net One for their sponsorship which has seen the season kicking off on a high note. As the Premier Soccer League we hope to have a long-term relationship with NetOne. I also want to congratulate Dynamos for winning the trophy in such an entertaining game. Motor Action put up a spirited fight but unfortunately there could only be one winner,” said Phiri
Teams:
Motor Action: M. Jani, P. Bernard, O. Mushure, S. Mutenheri, T. Ndhlovu, E. Tembo, M. Mambare (T. Masuku 92nd min), W. Kupera (E. Chitato 46th min), A. Gahadzikwa, E. Perezo, K. Musharu
Dynamos: W. Arubi, T. Mamvura, A. Mbara (N. Alifandika 70th min), G. Zhokinyi, V. Madamombe, M. Makopa, D. Benati, F. Vimisayi (C. Mwale 75th min), D. Maringwa, M. Murape (T. Magorimbo 85th min), P. Kumbula.