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When veteran Murape Murape rose high in the 14th minute to head into the nets off a Tawanda Muparati cross it seemed the champions were on course for another perfect outing after a tennis scoreline of 6-0 in the reverse leg.
But struggling Blue Rangers quickly came back into the game four minutes before the breather, when Lawrence Mduli sent a perfect header off a cross from impressive Tigere Muparaganda, to level terms at Rufaro.
Three minutes before, Rangers had had a goal disallowed for offside by referee Batsirai Muchenje, after Muparaganda had connected a good ball and shot into the nets.
However, minutes later they made sure there was everything to play for in the second half.
Dynamos could have regained their lead before stoppage time of the first half when defender Guthrie Zhokinyi’s powerful header had to be parried for a corner by goalkeeper Pedzisai Gumiremhete who was having a game of his life shutting out a number of raids by the champions.
The former Shooting Stars and Harare City goalkeeper Gumiremhete was forced to summon his reflexes in the 20th minute to block Denver Mukamba’s cross and 15 minutes later it was Cliff Sekete who watched as the goalkeeper saved his effort.
Blue Rangers, who had appeared overwhelmed by the occasion in the first half, regrouped and matched a subdued DeMbare who were failing to create chances for Roderick Mutuma upfront.
The introduction of the young duo of Farai Mupasiri and Tichaona Mabvura who shone when they started against Rangers in the return tie did not make any difference as DeMbare desperately sought for an equaliser.
Rangers’ captain Nyasha Chazika and assistant coach Garikai Mukangairwa are former DeMbare players who hail from the same street in National Mbare and both had vowed before the game that there is nothing extraordinary about the Dynamos side besides their intimidating fans and had a plan to silence them.
With less action as the game wore on Gumiremhete who joined Rangers dressing room during the transfer-window and was not yet at the club when they conceded six goals made significant changes to the team and in the 65th minute he was equal to the task when he saved an Ocean Mushure freekick while a minute later had to recover quickly after a making a blunder and spilled the ball with Martin Vengesayi lurking but quickly collected the ball out of danger.
Dynamos coach Pasuwa was a disappointed man and said complacency cost them the match.
Dynamos’ last training session had exuded a relaxed atmosphere for the players and even coach Callisto Pasuwa was not under any pressure whatsoever as he delegated his goalkeepers’ coach Tichaona Diya to speak to the press as he jokingly referred to his opposite Partson Ndabambi a lightweight who just loves talking.
“It is a very disappointing result. We didn’t create enough chances. We didn’t do enough today. Of course, the players got complacent and we have been telling them even though we beat them 6-0 it is now a different side but their attitude towards the game was just negative.
“We didn’t knock the ball around and the players were not going into scoring positions. We have to focus on the coming games and we will try to motivate the guys that it doesn’t matter we are behind Highlanders by many points (eight),” said Pasuwa.
Blue Rangers coach Ndabambi who took charge of the team after the 6-0 drubbing and following the departure of coach Misheck Chidzambwa on the eve of the Harare giants match was a happy man.
The diminutive coach, a Premiership and Division One hustler, who can pass as a too talkative mentor indeed during the build-up to the match had lots to say and said his team was now looking forward to winning more matches against “mediocre teams”.
“A draw against DeMbare is a good result. We will try to get points against other small teams. We are not a small team. If we can manage to hold national champions what about mediocre teams?
“It was a balanced match and with a bit of luck we could have won it. We feel hard done by the offside call. It was a genuine goal. This result is a step in the right direction for us. They scored first but we managed to come back and matched them man for man,” said Ndabambi.
Teams
Blue Rangers: P. Gumiremhete, K. Mazhambe, N. Chazika, J. Marufu, S. Hadebe, F. Mukaira, H. Chombe(M. Motsi 64th minute), T. Munetsi(N. Mukwezvaramba 59th minute), L. Mwashita(D. Temwanjira 86th minute), L. Mdluli, T. Muparanga.
Dynamos: G. Chigova, O. Mushure, G. Magariro, G. Zhokinyi, T. Magorimbo, M. Makopa, D. Mukamba (T. Mabvura 74th minute), F. Muparati, M. Murape, C. Sekete (T. Mupasiri 57th minute), R. Mutuma (M. Vengesayi 64th minute).
Online Reporter