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Dynamos in a lively Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Mucheke yesterday.
The only goal of the match came in the eighth minute when Pevington Zimunya was fouled by Dynamos defender David Kutyauripo just outside the box.
And up stepped former Zimbabwe Saints player Ndiweni, who spotted Dynamos stand-in goalkeeper Phillip Nhete off the his line, to lob in the resultant free-kick and silence hundreds of the Harare side’s faithful who were in the packed stadium.
The goal stopped Dynamos’ recent fine run in the championship race under coach Calisto Pasuwa.
Dynamos tried to come back into the match after Ndiweni’s goal but they were badly let down by striker Rodrick Mutuma who missed a number of gilt-edged chances.
DeMbare also clearly missed the services of their first-choice goalkeeper Washington Arubi, who was away on national duty with the Warriors in Cape Verde, as his replacement Nhete was jittery between the sticks.
Going into yesterday’s match, second-placed Dynamos were under pressure to win after pacesetters FC Platinum beat Black Mambas 3-1 at Mandava on Saturday to open up a four-point lead at the top of the table.
And any chances Dynamos had of winning this match and keeping FC Platinum within their sights were dashed by a stubborn Masvingo who defended for dear life after Ndiweni’s eight-minute opener. Dynamos are now trailing FC Platinum by four points with five matches to go before the season reaches its business end.
Masvingo’s new coach, Ralph Kawondera, could not contain himself after getting one over Dynamos – the team that sacked him a few months ago as one of their assistant coaches.
“The boys really played well because they played to instructions and once we got in front, I knew that there was no way Dynamos were going to comeback into the match.
“But the most important thing is that we got the three priceless points and that should put us in good stead for our next assignment as we fight to get ourselves from the bottom half of the table,” Kawondera said.
Results
Castle Premier Soccer League
Yesterday
Masvingo 1, Dynamos 0; Highlanders 1, Shooting Stars 1; Hwange 2, Shabanie Mine 1
Gunners 1, Kiglon 0; Played on Saturday; FC Platinum 3, Black Mambas 1
Motor Action 0, Blue Ribbon 1; Monomotapa 2, Zimbabwe Saints 2; Chicken Inn 1, CAPS United 2
Latest Log Standings
| TEAM | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts |
| FC Platinum | 25 | 14 | 7 | 4 | 37 | 17 | 49 |
| Dynamos | 25 | 13 | 6 | 6 | 35 | 14 | 45 |
| Motor action | 25 | 11 | 10 | 4 | 28 | 14 | 43 |
| Hwange | 25 | 11 | 7 | 7 | 22 | 18 | 40 |
| Highlanders | 25 | 11 | 6 | 8 | 24 | 17 | 39 |
| Gunners | 25 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 30 | 2 | 38 |
| Chicken Inn | 24 | 8 | 11 | 5 | 28 | 16 | 35 |
| CAPS United | 25 | 10 | 5 | 10 | 38 | 30 | 35 |
| Blue Ribbon | 25 | 7 | 11 | 7 | 29 | 30 | 32 |
| Masvingo United | 25 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 25 | 35 | 30 |
| Monomotapa | 25 | 5 | 14 | 6 | 24 | 27 | 29 |
| Black Mambas | 25 | 8 | 4 | 13 | 24 | 36 | 28 |
| Shabanie Mine | 25 | 6 | 9 | 10 | 26 | 41 | 27 |
| Zimbabwe Saints | 25 | 4 | 10 | 11 | 19 | 34 | 22 |
| Shooting Stars | 25 | 6 | 4 | 15 | 25 | 41 | 22 |
| Kiglon | 25 | 4 | 9 | 12 | 19 | 39 |
21 |
Online Reporter