DYNAMOS . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 2
GREEN FUEL . . . . . . . . . . . . .0
DYNAMOS’ audacious bid to escape relegation gained more traction yesterday as they secured their third consecutive league victory, defeating GreenFuel at Rufaro Stadium.
Second half goals from Jairos Kasondo and a penalty from Temptation Chiwunga gave the Harare giants the much-needed victory.
This crucial win provides a massive morale boost for the team in the final stretch of the season.
DeMbare coach Kelvin Kaindu, who has masterminded the team’s resurgence, was happy with the character shown by his side, who were forced to chase the game in the first half.
“I give credit to the team for us to pick up maximum points and to score two goals,” Kaindu said.
“It shows that we have improved. But overall play, I think this was an average performance from the team. Even in our planning, we knew that today’s game was going to be very difficult for us and this is what happened.
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“For us to have gone back at half-time, it was a result that was a bit crazy. But in the second half, we came back a bit strong. We managed to score two goals, maybe with a bit of luck we could have scored the third goal. But I appreciate the team for the character that they have shown because this was not an easy game.”
Kaindu revealed the message that he told his boys that helped them to turnaround the match.
“I said we only got 45 minutes. We knew that if our opponents dominated us in the first 45 minutes and they didn’t score, we knew that definitely we would be able to control the second half,” he said.
“And we asked everybody to show a bit of character that even if we don’t play well, what matters is the points and this is exactly what we did.”
Green Fuel coach Godfrey Tamirepi, whose team are third from the bottom with 27 points, bemoaned his side’s failure to convert the chances that came their way.
“Very good first half, we were much much much in control, but we never utilised our chances. Came second half, for whatever reasons, we lost concentration and we started conceding a lot of free kicks.”
This was no ordinary win for Dynamos.
It was their third in a row in the league and fifth in all competitions, a streak that, just a few weeks ago, would have seemed a miraculous feat.
The victory not only netted them three crucial points, but also provided a much-needed psychological boost, proving that survival is not just a dream but a tangible goal.
The stats paint a clear picture of their uphill battle, though.
Despite yesterday’s win, Dynamos remains second from the bottom.
Yet, the gap is shrinking.
Their 25 points now put them just three points shy of Triangle, a team sitting on 13th position.
More importantly, the log is a tightly packed affair, with the mid-table a mere stone’s throw away.
Three more wins could catapult them into the top 10, a destination that seemed unimaginable some few weeks back.
Yesterday’s match was a microcosm of their season’s dramatic reversal.
The first half was a familiar, frustrating sight for Dynamos fans.
Green Fuel, led by the dynamic Tinotenda Meke, dominated proceedings.
Their attacks were fast and fluid, their chances numerous.
Former Caps United stars Rodwell Chinyengetere and Clive Rupiya had their moments, but a lack of a clinical finish meant the score remained locked at 0-0 at the break.
For Dynamos, it was a half of holding on, of living dangerously.
But the second half saw a completely different team emerge from the tunnel.
It was a transformation rooted in desperation and driven by a fierce desire to survive.
They came out with renewed purpose, their attacks now sharp and decisive.
It didn’t take long for them to turn their dominance into goals.
The first came from a moment of pure opportunism.
A free-kick sent into the Green Fuel box was met by the head of Jairos Kasondo, who found the back of the net.
The second goal followed just five minutes later, a coolly taken penalty by set-piece expert Chiwunga after a handball in the area.
The goals seemed to unlock something in Dynamos.
They played with a newfound swagger, creating more chances, including a stunning free-kick from veteran midfielder Denver Mukamba that kissed the post.
In the end, it was a testament to their resilience.
As Green Fuel pushed for a late comeback, Dynamos held firm, defending their precious lead with grit and determination.
They may not be out of the woods yet, but yesterday’s win was a beacon of hope, a powerful statement that this team has not given up.
The great escape is on.
