Online Reporter
Veronica Gwaze
Zimpapers Sports Hub
Dynamos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 (0)
Scottland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 (0)
SCOTTLAND loaned Nathan Mutasa to Dynamos in search of playing time.
Yesterday, he used it against them.
The midfielder came off the bench to start the move that produced Wisdom Mutasa’s 70th-minute equaliser as Dynamos denied the champions maximum points in a pulsating 1-1 draw before a near-capacity Rufaro crowd.
Five minutes earlier, former Dynamos captain Emmanuel Jalai had created Scottland’s opener, delivering the cross from which Panashe Mutimbanyoka put the visitors ahead.
Jalai is on loan at Scottland from South African side Durban City. Nathan remains a Scottland player, temporarily wearing the blue of Dynamos.
One helped Scottland score against his former club. The other helped Dynamos respond against his parent club.
Only days earlier, Nathan had stepped off the bench with Dynamos and TelOne locked at 1-1 in their Chibuku Super Cup tie.
He scored, then delivered the corner from which Isaac Landu struck as the Glamour Boys ran out 4-1 winners.
Mutasa had struggled for playing time at Scottland and was once whistled off by their supporters. At Rufaro, the Vietnam Stand rose to acclaim him.
Rufaro was a rainbow of colour and noise as two of the championship’s leading sides traded attacks in a contest that rarely slowed.
Dynamos made the sharper start when Frank Agyemang crossed for Ben Daouda Sidibe, whose header missed the target.
Scottland should have gone ahead after captain Shadreck Nyahwa’s mistake allowed Mthokozisi Msebe to release Mutimbanyoka. The forward beat goalkeeper Tatenda Makoni but failed to find the empty net.
At the other end, Gwatidzo worked his way past Jalai and Peter Muduhwa before crossing for Agyemang, whose header was blocked by Nelson Chadya.
Scottland thought they had broken the deadlock shortly before the break when Khama Billiat shrugged off Landu and found the top corner, but the assistant referee’s flag was already up for off-side.
Dynamos went close again soon after the restart when Sidibe’s effort struck the crossbar. Scottland survived and took the lead in the 65th minute. Jalai delivered from the right, and Mutimbanyoka made amends for his earlier miss by beating Makoni.
Their advantage lasted only five minutes.
Nathan Mutasa cut through the Scottland defence with a pass between Muduhwa and Kevin Moyo. Sidibe flicked the ball into the path of Wisdom Mutasa, who levelled matters.
The equaliser lifted Dynamos and forced Scottland coach Norman Mapeza to introduce Knowledge and Walter Musona for Moses Shidolo and Emmanuel Ziocha.
But the Glamour Boys continued to press, repeatedly testing Chadya as Scottland struggled to regain control of midfield.
Tempers flared late on when Scottland appealed for a handball against Landu. Referee Thabani Ruzario waved play on before Muduhwa and Nyahwa clashed as players crowded the official.
Landu was named man of the match after restricting Billiat for much of the contest.
Mapeza felt Scottland had created enough opportunities to win.
“It was a very good game. In the first half, I think we should have done better to bury the game because we had good opportunities. On a good day, we would have collected maximum points,” he said.
“In the second half, we struggled in the middle, and they caught us on the break. It was not as if they were creating much. We were the better side.”
Mapeza also complained about the officiating but did not identify the official or decision that had angered him.
“At the end of the day, “the guy” spoiled the game for us. I don’t want to talk much about it, but everybody saw what was going on,” he said. Dynamos coach Aristica Cioaba praised his players for following the game plan despite having only two days to recover.
“I have to congratulate my players first for respecting our game plan,” he said.
“You could see that the drive and passion were at the maximum, and the rhythm was excellent. The opponent also made it exciting because they are a well-drilled side.
“Both teams had good moments and created chances. Either side could have won had they taken them, but in the end I think a draw was fair.” The result kept Scottland at the top of the table, with Dynamos remaining third.
At the final whistle, the Vietnam Stand rose to give Cioaba a standing ovation and acclaim Nathan Mutasa.
Once whistled by Scottland supporters, the loanee left Rufaro with the Dynamos faithful firmly behind him.
