malvernmugadzikwa
Oscar Rusenga in TRIANGLE
Green Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 1
Dynamos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
DEBUTANTS Green Fuel were in a party mood yesterday after registering what could easily be the biggest win of their maiden dance in the top-flight.
The Chisumbanje-based outfit have been on a revival mission since the arrival of experienced coach Rodwell Dhlakama, especially after a false start to life in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League.
Yesterday, they secured their fourth win in 16 attempts, which helped them climb to 12th on the log with 17 points.
Nqobile Ndlovu’s second-half goal made the difference at Gibbo Stadium and also halted Dynamos’ resurgence.
The Harare side had been unbeaten in their last four matches since action resumed after a temporary halt in Premiership action.
They came into game buoyed by a 2-0 win over Chicken Inn at Barbourfields Stadium last weekend.
Green Fuel did not show any signs of being intimidated and took the game to their opponents.
It was a typically physical encounter and the first quarter of an hour was a stop-start affair, with referee Brighton Chimene trying to maintain a firm grip on the match.
Fans had to wait for 19 minutes before witnessing the first real attempt on goal.
Green Fuel defender Honest Moyo released a speculative shot from outside the box but Dynamos goalkeeper Prince Tafiremutsa was equal to the task.
There was another long stoppage in the 37th minute, when Bukhosi Sibanda sustained a head injury, which eventually forced him out of the match.
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.
However, Dynamos’ regular penalty taker Donald Dzvinyai blazed his effort over.
DeMbare’s Tanaka Shandirwa and Denver Mukamba, who was an unused substitute, were cautioned after a melee towards half time.
The hosts grew in confidence in the free-flowing second period, as both teams went pound-for- pound, with Xolosani Moyo and Naison Takawira edging Shandirwa and Mudadi in the midfield battle.
Dynamos could have taken the lead in the 68th minute but teenage striker Elton Chikona unbelievably blasted his shot high from close range after being teed 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.
A moment of brilliance in the 72nd minute decided the match.
Collins Dhuwa picked Ndlovu with a pinpoint cross and the big striker obliged by perfectly planting his header in the Dynamos net.
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.
Dhlakama, who has transformed the newboys into a competitive outfit, said their mission is to move away from the drop zone.
“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,” he said.
“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 . . .”
DeMbare coach Herbert Maruwa believes his players might have been complacent.
“It was a tough match. We got our chance in the first half . . . 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, Xolosani 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)
Online Reporter