Green Fuel upstage DeMbare

Oscar Rusenga in TRIANGLE
Green Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 1
Dynamos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  0

DEBUTANTS Green Fuel burst into party mood when they registered easily the biggest win of their maiden dance with the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League.

The Chisumbanje outfit, on a revival mission since the arrival of experienced coach Rodwell Dhlakama, have been trying to steer clear from the danger zone after a false start to life in the elite league.
Yesterday they did themselves a power of good when they secured only their fourth win in 16 attempts, which helped them climb up into 12th place with 17 points.

Nqobile Ndlovu’s second-half goal made the difference at Gibbo and also halted Dynamos’ resurgence.
Dynamos had been unbeaten in their last four matches since the top-flight action resumed.

They came into yesterday’s game buoyed by a 2-0 win over Chicken Inn at Barbourfields.
Green Fuel did not show any signs of being intimidated by both Dynamos’ profile and current form and took the game to their opponents.

It was a physical encounter as the temperatures plummeted at Gibbo and the first quarter of an hour was stop start with referee Brighton Chimene trying to maintain a firm grip on the match.

The game had to wait for 19 minutes before fans witnessed a first real attempt on goal.
Green Fuel defender, Honest Moyo released a speculative shot from outside the 18-yard box but Dynamos goalkeeper, Prince Tafiremutsa was equal to the task.

There was another long stoppage in the 37th minute when Bukhosi Sibanda required heavy bandaging after a head injury, which eventually forced him out of the match and he was replaced by Aristotle Manyamba three minutes later.

As half-time approached Dynamos had their best chance to seize the initiative when Chimene pointed to the spot following Moyo’s clumsy challenge on Emmanuel Jalai.

Up-stepped regular Dynamos penalty taker Donald Dzvinyai who, however, blazed his effort over.

Dynamos players could not manage their frustration as they caused an unnecessary melee at half-time pushing and shoving with Green Fuel players that resulted in Tanaka Shandirwa and Denver Mukamba, who was an unused substitute cautioned by Chimene.

The hosts grew in confidence in the second period in a much better half in which the game was free-flowing as both teams went pound for pound with Xolisani Moyo and Naison Takawira edging Shandirwa and Mudadi in the midfield battle.

Dynamos should have taken the lead in the 68th minute but teenage striker Elton Chikona unbelievably blasted his shot high from close range after being set up by Shandirwa.

Dynamos tried to find a breakthrough but the pair of Tatenda Gora and Legends Football Academy loanee Tashinga Pfende were solid at the back and made sure they kept the door shut.

A moment of brilliance eventually in the 72nd minute changed everything when Collins Dhuwa picked Ndlovu with a pinpoint cross for the big striker to plant his header home.

After losing to CAPS United and drawing with Chicken Inn, Green Fuel had every reason to celebrate yesterday’s win as they have rarely triumphed against the league’s top sides.
They have collected four points from their previous three matches against perennial giants Dynamos, Caps United and Chicken Inn.

Dhlakama, who has transformed the newboys into a competitive outfit, said their mission is to climb far away from the drop zone.

He also revealed that a sombre mood had engulfed their camp after two of his players lost their fathers during the week.

“We needed this win… sitting in the relegation zone is not a good thing.
“I am happy for the team, I am happy for the supporters, we played well in the first half but they could have gone up when they missed the penalty and that was going to be the turning point.

“We missed Raymond Uchena and Mclive Phiri, who both lost their fathers on the same day.
“It was a sad scenario and if they were available they were going to play but we have good players who stepped in and managed to keep a clean sheet, you keep a clean sheet you get a result, you score you get three points,” said Dhlakama.

DeMbare coach Herbert Maruwa dejectedly looked at the jubilant Green Fuel fans and reckoned that his players might have been complacent in their approach.

“It was a tough match, we got our chance in the first half, we got a penalty and we missed it,’’ Maruwa said.

“We got punished from a silly header, I am very disappointed with the way we applied ourselves especially coming from a win against Chicken Inn then we lose to a team in relegation.  It’s something to do with complacency and we must not underrate teams.
“Green Fuel were hungrier than us and that’s where we lost it,” said Maruwa.

TEAMS:
Green Fuel: David Bizabani, Tashinga Pfende, Tatenda Gora, Reginald Chinemo, Honest Moyo, Xolisani Moyo, Collins Dhuwa, Bhukosi Sibanda (Aristotle Manyamba 40th min), Nqobile Ndlovu, Washington Mapuwa (Maxwell Makomeke 84th min), Naison Takawira (Charles Mukanhairi 79th min)

Dynamos: Prince Tafiremutsa, Shadreck Nyahwa, Kevin Moyo, Ellie Ilunga (Emmanuel Paga 54th min), Donald Dzvinyai, Emmanuel Jalai, Elton Chikona (Jayden Bakare 69th min), Arthur Musiiwa (Donald Mudadi 54th min), Keith Madera (Issa Sadiki 54th min), Tanaka Shandirwa (Emmanuel Ziocha 90th min)