Dynamos . . . . . . . . . . . .(0) 1
Simba Bhora . . . . . . . . (0) 0
A SHADRECK Nyahwa goal at the start of the second half gave Dynamos a long-awaited premier league victory as they beat defending champions Simba Bhora at Rufaro Stadium yesterday.
The midfielder slotted home into an empty net after a howler by Simba Bhora's goalkeeper, William Thole, who misjudged a Nomore Chinyerere cross following a corner in the 50th minute.
Yesterday's victory was the Harare giants' second triumph over Simba Bhora this term after beating the Shamva-based team in the season-opening Castle Challenge Cup at the end of February.
It was Dynamos' first league victory in eight matches since they beat FC Platinum 2-0 at Rufaro on November 2 last year.
Dynamos coach Lloyd Chigowe said he was still trying to integrate the club's new players into the side but was relieved to collect his first victory in four matches.
The other three matches ended in draws.
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"I'm grateful for the performance by my team," a relieved Chigowe said.
"They stuck to instructions. We knew pretty well that after beating Simba in the Challenge Cup, they would come at us. But we knew that it was key for us to be able to absorb the pressure and take our chances when they came. Indeed, we managed to get the chance and we threw the ball in the net. We suffered a little bit, but in the end, we scored and managed to collect three points."
Nyahwa's goal was the first time that a Dynamos player had scored in the league this season.
Victory moved Dynamos out of the relegation zone into sixth position on the log standings with six points from a possible 12.
This was Simba Bhora's first defeat of the season. They dropped to 12th position, although they are a point away from Dynamos.
Their coach, Joel Luphahla, who was Chigowe's assistant last season, was disappointed that he could not outsmart his mentor on the second time of asking.
"It was always going to be a difficult game coming here versus Dynamos. I felt that the boys tried their best, but Dynamos was more motivated in the sense that maybe I came from here last season, so the motivation was always there. They don't want to lose to their former coach.
"I'm very confident with the team that we have. We are still trying to find ways to finish off matches. We didn't create more today, maybe half chances, but at the end of the day, we have played four games, it's a worry, it's a concern that we have scored only one goal."
A quiet opening half saw two half-decent openings, one for each side —Frank Agyemang wriggling his way into the box but the ball tangled with his feet and he couldn't shoot, with only the keeper to beat, while Blessing Moyo's free kick from range was parried away by Dynamos goalkeeper Prince Tafiremutsa at the other end moments before the break.
A triple substitute at the start of the second half for Simba Bhora saw them seizing control in midfield, but it was Chigowe's men who almost took the lead soon after the restart.
Leeroy Mavhunga slipped through Agyemang, but Thole came flying off his line to block the danger.
The Malawi international, however, made a mess of Dynamos's next attack.
Emmanuel Jalai found Chinyerere with a short corner, and the left-back clipped a high ball into the box with his weaker right foot.
The keeper charged off his line to try and cut off the cross, but completely missed the ball, which fell invitingly for Nyahwa to tap into an empty net.
Agyemang should have doubled the lead moments later when he was again picked inside the box by Mavhunga, but the Ghanaian side-footed his effort over the cross bar.
Simba Bhora took over control of the match afterward as they searched for a leveller, but the Dynamos' defence held firm to secure a crucial victory.
Teams
Dynamos: P Tafiremutsa, E Jalai, T Magwaza, N Chinyerere, C Mandivei, S Nyahwa, F Agyemang (E Chikona, 72'), T Pio, V Ngwenya, L Mavhunga (L Gwatidzo, 82'), V Kadonzvo (R Chingwara, 77').
Simba Bhora: W Thole, C Makambira (T Meke, 46') W Tafa, I Mauchi, B Moyo, I Nyanhi (B Ndereki, 46'), B Ncube, J Makunike (T Mavhunga, 46'), E Ziocha (D Mudadi, 70'), I Gurirab, W Manondo (M Hwata 70').
