Chronicle EditorLovemore Dube in Francistown, Botswana
Dynamos 1-1 Orapa United
(Dynamos lost 1-3 on penalties)
A MISSED penalty, a monumental second-half collapse and poor penalty kick-taking saw Dynamos bow out of the 2024 Caf Confederations Cup at Botswana’s Obed Itani Chilume Stadium yesterday.
The former glamour club of Zimbabwe football had Temptation Chiwunga scoring their goal to leave a flicker of hope in the lottery.
He would be the only one to score with Valentine Kadonzvo, Eli Ilunga and Nomore Chinyerere failing to convert.
Kesaobaka Thatanyane, Kagisanyo Mungu and Koketso Majafi scored for Orapa to give new coach Jimmie Pantev a first for the club in four attempts, a milestone for the club.
In previous attempts, they were knocked out early.
Orapa goalkeeper Lesenya Malepela was the star of the match with his penalty save in regular time and penalty kickouts. Dynamos went into the game ranked favourites to advance to the next stage.
They led 1-0 from the first leg played last week at the same venue.
Dynamos were presented a chance to make it 2-0 in the 21st minute after Shadreck Nyahwa was brought down in the box.
Kevin Moyo took the responsibility and had his effort punched back to play by lanky goalkeeper Malepela.
In the ensuing melee, Elton Chakona shot at goal and his effort ricocheted off a defender and Emmanuel Paga came to the end of it.
The ball crossed the line and the second assistant Robert Henry raced to the centre for goal but the referee Antony Doud surprisingly called the goal out, signalling handball.
Dynamos were to heave a sigh of relief four minutes later when Thibedi broke through and shot wide.
The Glamour Boys got another chance to make it 1-1 when Donald Dzvinyai mistimed a free kick from the left after Paga who fought a lone battle with young Chakona had been fouled.
A sweeping move in the Orapa final third had Dynamos play too many touches in the box with Paga failing to pull the trigger. They were eventually dispossessed.
Orapa got a chance to take the lead on 44 minutes with a chance going begging when Martin Mapisa let the low cross fly across in his watch.
Dynamos returned from the break out of sorts.
Orapa took control and it became a question of when and how many goals they would score. But poor work in the final third and flamboyancy in midfield and wings restricted the damage.
Ival Kamberipa pressured Frank Makarati into scoring an own goal to leave both teams 1-1 and set for the lottery.
The die was cast in the last 60 minutes of play as Dynamos struggled for breathing air.
Lloyd “Mablanyo” Chigowe however, appeared to be the glue holding the club together with his fairytale run in the Caf tournament and the club was reluctant to bring another coach to the fray.
Dynamos will now have to turn to the quarter-finals of the Chibuku Super Cup to salvage some pride as they are out of contention for the league race.
Both coaches conceded the tie was a difficult game.
Orapa, who appeared a class ahead of Dynamos in all departments, will now earn US$400 000 for reaching the group stages of the Caf Confederations Cup.
Dynamos have been counting the costs of their participation worsened by playing home matches away with yesterday having gobbled over US$70 000.
Online Reporter