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FOR 45 minutes yesterday Dynamos found the touch, mo-vement and grace, which destroyed MC Alger in a Champions League tie at Rufaro three months ago, before they went to sleep in the second half of this Castle Lager Premiership tie.
For 45 minutes yesterday, poor Black Mambas played like the hopeless relegation material they have been all season before finding their rhythm in the second half to justify why they came for this contest in the first place.
For 90 minutes yesterday, the predominantly DeMbare fans were subjected to a game of two halves, with their team dominant in the first and anonymous in the second.
What will be remembered is that exciting midfielder Archford Gutu struck twice, with beautiful goals delivered from dead ball situations that warmed a chilly winter afternoon.
And that gangly striker Rodrick Mutuma also scored twice, with two goals plucked from the top drawer, as DeMbare coasted to victory in this Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match.
Dynamos’ run this season has been characterised by poor execution in front of goal and yesterday’s victory eased pressure on the team as it came just 24 hours after their bitter rivals CAPS United had won by a similar margin against Masvingo United.
DeMbare jumped two places up the ladder into sixth position with 19 points while Mambas dropped one rung down the table.
They are now third from bottom with 10 points from 12 starts.
The Glamour Boys will now face Blue Ribbon at Rufaro on Sunday while CAPS United date Monomotapa at the same venue tomorrow and, should the two giants win, we will certainly have an explosive Harare Derby next Sunday.
Impressive midfielder Gutu opened the scoring early in the game when he buried two set-pieces inside the first 25 minutes before hard work paid dividends for Mutuma who was also rewarded on the 33rd and 39th minutes with fine efforts.
The first half clearly belonged to Dynamos but Mambas put up a strong challenge in the second although Innocent Nyoni’s 67th minute strike could not do enough to inspire Warumwa Warumwa back into the game.
The Dynamos technical team was relieved after watching the goal harvest, which delighted a sizeable crowd that cheered them on all the way.
Assistant coach Ralph Kawondera gave credit to the players for their fighting spirit and was delighted by their goal scoring form.
“This was a good performance but I think we slowed down our game in the second half.
“We created chances and we should have won by a bigger margin but I am happy because we still scored many goals.
“Our finishing has been big let down in most of our games this season but a result of this kind will surely bring back confidence in our players,” said Kawondera.
Dynamos surged ahead with only six minutes on the clock when referee Thomas Masaa awarded a freekick near the penalty arc after Mutuma was fouled by the Mambas defenders.
Gutu made no mistake from the set piece when he curled the ball past the wall to beat badly positioned goalkeeper Learnmore Jere.
Mambas, who were the home team, were unsettled by the goal although they tried hard to fight back early in the first half.
Former Hwange player Fortune Ncube and Zimbabwe youth international Abbas Amidu gave a good account in the midfield but Mambas lacked in the final third.
Striker Kasimero Chimbadzwa could count himself unlucky when he had his low shot parried out by Washington Arubi in the 16th minute.
Another chance went down the drain when Lovemore Maphuya’s shot was deflected out of play by Luckmore Kaisa as Dynamos defenders were caught flat footed from the resultant corner kick.
Dynamos could have doubled their lead two minutes later but Chafa’s dipping shot was parried over the crossbar by goalkeeper Jere.
Gutu won another free-kick at the arc in the 25th minute and he expertly chipped the ball over the wall to find the goalkeeper at the wrong side of the action for Dynamos’ second.
DeMbare, though, were lucky to get that free-kick as Gutu had lost possession by the time he was fouled.
Mutuma, who was full of running the whole afternoon, then controlled well a pass from Devon Chafa and drilled a low and powerful shot that beat the goalkeeper all systems out.
The lanky Dynamos forward completed his brace in the 39th minute when he received the ball from showman Denver Mukamba and shook off two defenders before firing home a left footer that gave the keeper no chance, to send the Glamour Boys’ fans into wild celebrations.
Mutuma could have scored a hattrick but he hurried his shot after winning possession inside the Mambas’ half on the hour mark.
But Mambas upped their game in the second half and their midfield was strengthened with the introduction of Peter Kachirika who replaced Chimbadzwa.
Mambas were able to reduce the arrears when the DeMbare backline failed to clear their lines after Arubi had done well to stop a dangerous ball from a freekick by Fortune Ncube from just outside the box in the 67th minute.
Nyoni pounced on the rebound and tucked the ball home despite frantic efforts by Arubi.
“We were very jittery in the first half and we conceded early goals which made it difficult for us to come back into the game.
“The damage was already done although we adjusted in the second half.
“It’s very disappointing because we had expected to collect maximum points since we were the home team,” said Mambas assistant coach Martin Bonongwe.
Teams
Black Mambas – L. Jere, L. Maphuya, L. Kaisa, G. Chikweva. B. Nyahunzvi, I. Nyoni, P. Kabwe, A. Amidu, F. Ncube, K. Chimbadzwa (P. Kachirika 55th minute), O. Rundofa
Dynamos – W. Arubi, D. Kutyauripo, A. Mbara, G. Magariro, G. Bello, D. Chafa, A. Gutu, D. Mukamba (D. Benati, 85th minute), M. Vengesai (F. Vimisayi 69th minute), M. Murape (T. Magorimbo), R. Mutuma
Results at glance
Black Mambas 1, Dynamos 4, Zimbabwe Saints 0, Shabanie Mine 0
Online Reporter