MWOS FC . . . . . . . . . . ( 0) 1
Dynamos . . . . . . . . . . .( 0) 0
HIGH-FLYING debutants MWOS FC are on cloud nine after lanky striker Claude Mapoka scored the solitary goal early in the second half that gave them victory over Dynamos in their historic first match at their newly-renovated Ngoni Stadium yesterday.
There was an electric atmosphere at their newcomers' Norton home with close to 10 000 supporters making it onto the ground.
MWOS coach Lloyd Mutasa emerged the lord of Lloyds after outsmarting his namesake, the under-fire Lloyd Chigowe, in the opposite dugout.
The win meant that MWOS FC extended their lead at the top of the standings to 17 points from seven matches, three ahead of Simba Bhora in second place.
And for Dynamos, the alarm bells continued to ring as they fell to their third loss on the trot.
Chigowe’s deputy, Mark Mathe, felt his team had a plan and deserved a draw.
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"We had a plan, a tactical plan, and according to us, I thought it worked out well, especially in the first half. These guys are very dangerous on the wing. So if you have a team that is dangerous on the wings, you want to stifle spaces, so they don't run into the box, so they don't get effective. We did that effectively," he said.
"However, I think we were not good because we planned to then stifle the play, get the ball, and hit them on the break. We didn't do that quite well in the transition.
"In the second half, we came out of our shells. For the goal we conceded. We could have avoided it. So, yeah, it's a tough one to take according to us, but we could take a point apiece," he added.
His counterpart, Mutasa, was delighted to win the first match in their Ngoni Stadium homecoming.
"Another tough encounter, I think we expected it. In the homecoming, I think we're very excited because history will say, we opened the stadium against one of the big teams in Zimbabwe, and we managed to come out victorious.
"I think we persevered we knew we had a strong man up front in Pokello and coming from the wings, we were clamouring for crosses to him, and at the end of the day, we managed to utilise one of the few chances that came our way, and that made the difference," Mutasa said.
Backed by a vocal home crowd, MWOS FC were quick off the block, and the first shot of the game came from Tinotenda Mutyambizi, which flew wide.
Inform Billy Veremu drew a brilliant save from Tatenda Makoni halfway through the first half after breaking free on the right side.
It took close to half an hour for DeMbare to fashion their first attempt on target after Ngwenya robbed and shot tamely at Martin Mapisa.
Mapoka headed wide after rising the highest to meet Tafadzwa George's cross late in the half.
Chigowe made three substitutes at the break, bringing in Tellmore Pio, Elton Chikona and Frank Agmeyang for 1 Rainsome Chingwara, Jairos Kasondo and Ephraim Gwekwerere.
They started the second half strong, but against the run of play, Mapoka gave the hosts the lead with a diving header from a Billy Veremu pinpoint cross in the 52nd minute.
Ngwenya could have drawn Dynamos level moments later after a neat buildup, but he shot straight at Mapisa from the edge of the box.
Substitutes Enasio Pereso Jr and Chikona had late chances but found Mapisa in an uncompromising mood.
Teams
MWOS FC: M Mapisa, T Nyabunze, V Katsande, I Zambezi, M Murambiwa, T Mutyambizi, T George (A Kassim 68'), M Madzuka, B Veremu (W Mensah 74th), C Mapoka (S Cheya 83rd), N Matinha ( J Makangira 74th)
Dynamos: T Makoni, E Jalai, A Gwatidzo, N Chinyerere (Mandinyenya 76'), C Mandivei, T Magwaza, S Nyasha, V Ngwenya ( E Pereso Jr 76th), R Chingwara (T Pio 46'), J Kasondo (F Agmeyang 46'), E Gwekwerere (E Chikona 46')
