malvernmugadzikwa
Langton Nyakwenda in ZVISHAVANE
FC Platinum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 1
Dynamos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 1
(Dynamos won 5-3 on penalties)
IN the end, it didn’t matter that they were missing their coach and two key players, as Dynamos powered into the Chibuku Super Cup semi-finals via a penalty shootout at Mandava Stadium yesterday.
Mbare-bred midfielder Emmanuel Ziocha, 22, converted the decisive kick from the penalty spot after Innocent Mucheneka had missed FC Platinum’s third penalty.
Skipper Frank Makarati, Kelvin Moyo, Denver Mukamba and Eli Ilunga converted for DeMbare.
Gift Mbweti, Nomore Chinyerere and Perfect Chikwende were on target for FC Platinum.
The two teams had to go to a penalty shootout after livewire winger Keith Madera had cancelled Jarrison Selemani’s goal late in the second half.
Lloyd Chigowe was in charge of Dynamos in the absence of head coach Genesis Mangombe, who was away Gaborone, Botswana, with the national team.
Mangombe addressed the players virtually in the morning to motivate them.
Chigowe was also spot on with his second-half substitutions.
He brought in Shadreck Nyahwa for Arthur Musiyiwa in the 71st minute and, five minutes later, the substitute created the equaliser for Madera.
Ilunga and Mukamba, who also came on late, converted their penalties, while substitute goalkeeper Frank Kuchinei saved Mucheneka’s kick.
“We know that Frank (Kuchinei) is our best when it comes to penalties so it was prudent for us to bring him on in the dying stages of the game,” said Chigowe.
But the day belonged to Ziocha, who converted the high-pressure winning penalty.
With the scores at 4-3, Ziocha stepped up and coolly slotted the ball into the bottom corner and beyond a diving Wallace Magalane.
Ziocha was raised in Mbare, in the same street where Dynamos’ founder member Jairos Banda hailed from.
And yesterday he scored the biggest goal of his career so far.
“I am from Mbare and Dynamos also have their roots in this ghetto, so it was good that I scored that winning penalty,” said Ziocha.
DeMbare progressed to the Chibuku Super Cup semis for the third time since the tournament’s inception in 2014.
They, however, have never won the competition.
It was sweet revenge for DeMbare, who were eliminated in the 2021 semi-finals by the miners.
Ironically, Mucheneka, who scored the solitary goal that sunk Dynamos in 2021, was the fall guy yesterday.
Dynamos have reached the final once, in 2015, when they lost 2-1 to Harare City.
Yesterday, the Glamour Boys put up one of their best performances in months, despite missing the influential duo of Tanaka Shandirwa and Donald Mudadi, who are also with the Warriors.
Madera was unplayable on the left wing and Junior Makunike proved once again he is now one of the best defensive midfielders in the league.
FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza admitted his side struggled against DeMbare.
The two-time Chibuku Super Cup champions were missing reigning Soccer Star of the Year Walter Musona and Brian Banda, also because of national duty.
They were dealt a blow two minutes before the break when they lost defender Misheck Ngwenya to injury.
He was replaced by veteran centre-back Gift Bello, who had an influence throughout the match.
“We struggled in the first half, but we were better in the second half,” said Mapeza.
He said he will now focus on the league championship race, where FC Platinum still have a chance of bagging a record fifth straight title.
“We will now shift focus on the league.”
FC Platinum are set to play Triangle at Gibbo Stadium in a mid-week assignment.
The Zvishavane side must be a disappointed lot after grabbing the lead in the 67th minute when Selemani headed home Chinyerere’s dangerous free-kick.
It turned out to be a short-lived lead, as Madera slid home a cut-back by Nyahwa nine minutes later.
Madera fashioned out a few chances and could have found the target in the first half, only for his effort to hit the post.
Ziocha also missed a header, while Nyasha Chintuli lacked speed of thought when he raced clear in the second half.
Dynamos join Black Rhinos in the semi-finals after Chauya Chipembere stunned Chicken Inn 2-1 at Luveve in an earlier game yesterday.
For FC Platinum, there are no hopes of a third Chibuku Cup title, while for DeMbare, the hunt is on for a maiden success in the competition.
TEAMS:
FC Platinum: W. Magalane, G. Mbweti, L. Mhlanga, M. Ngwenya (G. Bello 43), N. Chinyerere, H. Magaya, R. Pavari, J. Mutudza (I. Mucheneka 82), P. Mutimbanyoka, J. Selemani (P. Chikwende 73) T. Ngwenya
Dynamos: P. Tafiremutsa (F. Kuchinei 90), E. Jalai, K. Moyo, F. Makarati, E. Moyo, J. Makunike, E. Ziocha, A. Musiyiwa (S. Nyahwa 71), I. Sadiki (E. Paga 63), N. Chintuli (E. Ilunga 71), K. Madera (D. Mukamba 90)
Online Reporter