DeMbare’s derby treble

By Henry Mhara | Oct. 30, 2023

Dynamos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 2

Caps United . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0

Dynamos completed a historic treble over Caps United to progress to the final of the Chibuku Super Cup in a match played at the National Sports Stadium yesterday.

An exquisite Issa Sadiki freekick in the first half’s optional time, taking advantage of goalkeeper Ashley Reyners’ poor defence of his wall, gave DeMbare the lead in this exciting semi-final match before substitute Elton Chikona scored a breakaway goal on the 84th minute to secure the huge victory, and a possible ticket for his team to represent the country in the CAF Confederations Cup next year.

Dynamos will face Ngezi Platinum Stars in the final at Baobab Stadium on December 3 after the Mhondoro-based side beat Black Rhinos 3-0 in the first semi-final clash on Saturday.

The Harare giants can still secure the ticket to represent Zimbabwe in the African safari even if they lose the final, if Ngezi Platinum Stars win the league title as is expected.

But with five games to go in the league race, the second-placed Dynamos still entertain chances of grabbing the title and Cup double.

Coach Genesis Mangombe was thrilled to beat main city rivals three times this season, having beaten the Green Machine 2-0 and 1-0 in the league.

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“I’m happy with the way we played. We kept possession and at the same time created a lot of chances. We penetrated their defense several times and we were always looking dangerous. We played the way we wanted to play and how we had planned. Caps United also created some chances but it wasn't their day," Mangombe said.

Caps United coach Lloyd Chitembwe who shuffled his side yesterday by bringing in Joseph Tulani and Ben Musaka in midfield to try and neutralize the Dynamos youthful exuberance, expressed disappointment with the manner his team succumbed to the DeMbare juggernaut.

“It’s a very disappointing result. It was a game of two halves, in the first half we showed our dominance and we had control of the match up until the last moments of the first half. It's a goal that we could have avoided. The manner in which we conceded the foul, it was two versus one, so naturally you don't expect two men to lose a duel against one player. In the end, we conceded that unnecessary freekick" bemoaned Chitembwe.

He admitted that they collapsed in the second half under a barrage of attacks from DeMbare.

“In the second half, it was obviously difficult because we were chasing the game. We didn't make the correct decisions under pressure and it was our biggest undoing in the last moments, hence we gave them some very good opportunities to score... like the second goal we conceded, how on earth do you leave a forward unmarked like that? It boggles my mind. But some of these mistakes we take them as a learning curve for the boys. I'm really disappointed with the manner we conceded defeat today because we had done well as far as trying to come up with the right kind of structure and shape, was concerned, to try and win. Obviously, the application was not to the level of what I had expected," Chitembwe said.

Dynamos, in an unfamiliar red and blue strip, looked unrecognizable in the first few minutes and were fortunate not to concede, with Phineas Bhamusi and Rodwell Chinyengetere missing good chances early for Caps United.

Dynamos, uncharacteristically sloppy at the back, continued to concede corners and unnecessary setpieces in their final third.

But the closest that United came to utilise the chances was from a Chinyengetere dipping freekick from just outside the box which was tipped over by DeMbare goalkeeper Prince Tafiremutsa.

Mangombe's men soon settled into the game with the brilliant Donald Mudadi dictating the pace in midfield. The midfielder created the best chance for his side on the 15th minute when he won possession on the edge of the Caps United box before squaring the ball for Keith Madera who laid it to Eli Ilunga to shoot, but the effort from point blank was blocked by Reyners.

From this point onwards, Dynamos looked like the team to score, but needed a gift from Reyners to score the first goal.

The goalkeeper watched Sadiki's freekick from way outside the box near the touchline curl into the far post with almost the last kick of the first half.

Buoyed by the goal, Dynamos started the second half on the front foot and had a series of good chances early in the second stanza to consolidate their lead, with Ilunga and Madera wasting glorious opportunities.

They continued to create better chances and on another day, Mudadi could have registered at least four assists but his efforts went to waste with Sadiki, failing to hit the target from a one-versus-one situation with Reyners after he had been brilliantly set up by the former Black Rhinos midfielder.

Caps United threw bodies forward in search of the equaliser, but were in danger of getting caught on the counter.

With the clock ticking away, Dynamos exploited the spaces left behind. A Caps United freekick, swung in by Godknows Murwira was blocked with the ball falling on Tanaka Shandirwa whose clearance somehow picked the unmarked Chikona who ran half the field on his own before rounding off the exposed Reyners to slot into an empty net. It was game over.

Teams:

Dynamos: P Tafiremutsa, K Moyo, F Makarati, D Dzvinyai, E Jalai, S Nyahwa (T Shandirwa, 60'), B Makunike, D Mudadi (D Masiiwa, 80') I Sadiki (E Paga, 80') K Madera (E Ziocha, 60'), E Ilunga (E Chikona, 60').

Caps United: A Reyners, I Zambezi, H Chapusha, L Mangayira, B Musaka (D Chafa, 57'), G Murwira, J Thulani, B Sarupinda (W Manondo, 81'), T Daka, P Bamusi (T Rusike, 57'), R Chinyengetere.