Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
Scottland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
Dynamos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
GOALS were the only missing link as champions Scottland and giants Dynamos kept their Castle Lager Premier Soccer League starts intact at Rufaro yesterday.
Yet for its lack of goals, this was a Harare derby in which both sides dished up a super meal, which gave full value to a near-capacity crowd at the old Mbare Stadium.
Both Mabviravira and DeMbare added a point apiece to their tallies to remain well within touching distance of log leaders CAPS United, who have 19 points from eight games.
The Glamour Boys now have 16 points, while Scottland have 14.
Their showdown was eagerly awaited, given neither had lost in seven match days.
And the crowd swarmed the ceremonial home of football to watch the second contest between the two sides inside two months.
Their first clash of the year — the Castle Challenge Cup — ended in humiliation for Dynamos as Scottland hammered them 5-0.
There was no such one-sided affair yesterday as the encounter, despite its lack of goals, still left the fans happy.
It was a game worth top-flight status and a good advertisement for the league that has vastly improved both in terms of appeal and competitiveness.
Yet Dynamos marched into the showdown with the tag of underdogs facing the champions who had inflicted a rare huge defeat on them in March.
The Glamour Boys, who are on a resurgence, were at times vulnerable, especially in the second half when they decided to hold still at the back, but they were never passive.
They either had all the appropriate answers to all the hard questions that Scottland asked of them or they just asked tough questions of their own when they ventured into the opposition’s half.
Scottland coach Norman Mapeza felt his team deserved a win given the way they dominated most of the phases of play, especially in the second half, and rightly so.
He was, however, left to bemoan their lack of precision in front of goal.
“Maybe, like, I have said, maybe if we could have converted the chances that came our way, we could have changed the course of the game,” said Mapeza.
“In the second half, I think we did well, we controlled the game and kept on pushing. But the goals never came.
“If we had scored it should have been different story.”
Mapeza’s team, which had all the galaxy of stars including the ageless former Zimbabwe captain Knowledge Musona showed a lot of intent.
On several occasions, including twice clearly in the opening half, they could have scored.
But striker Tymon Machope, fed by Knowledge Musona and clear on goal, somehow made heavy touches and allowed Dynamos goalkeeper Tatenda Makoni to sprawl and thwart the effort.
Moments after letting them off the hook, Machope tried hard to compensate with his darting runs confusing the Dynamos’ rearguard, who conceded a free-kick from just outside the box.
Former Kaizer Chiefs talisman Knowledge Musona curled the ball, but his effort could only rattle the cross-bar and not the nets.
Dynamos looked to have done their homework well as Wisdom Mutasa was consistently denying Abubakar Moffat any positive forays that he always seems to enjoy against many of the Scottland opponents.
Scottland thought they had found the breakthrough when they had the ball inside the net, but substitute Khama Billiat was flagged for offside.
Then Peter Muduhwa tried a hit from outside the box which Makoni went down to smother and save. Dynamos coach Genesis Mangombe appeared content with the point they gained.
“The match went according to our game plan.
“In hindsight, I thought, maybe we were supposed to get a goal through those transitions from counter attacks, but it was quite unfortunate that the opponents were spot on.
“They really played very well from the back. That was perfect.
“But I am very happy with the way we played as a team to pick this valuable point against Scottland,” Mangombe said.
DeMbare will be hoping to maintain their momentum when they receive stubborn ZPC Kariba at the same venue on Sunday.
Teams:
Scottland: Nelson Chadya, Issaka Mohammed, Kwakhe Thwala, Kevin Moyo, Peter Muduhwa, Abubakar Moffat, Mthokozisi Msebe, Emmanuel Ziocha, Tymon Machope (Khama Billiat 57min), Walter Musona, Knowledge Musona
Dynamos: Tatenda Makoni, Tendaishe Magwaza, Abel Gwatidzo, Hastings Chapusha, Collin Mujuru, Shadreck Nyahwa, Tellmore Pio, Wisdom Mutasa (Enasio Perezo 61min), Frank Agyemang (Witness Shave 84min), Stanley Billiat (Leeroy Mavunga 61min), Jairos Kasondo (Elton Njini 61min)
