Dynamos . . . . . . . . . . (1) 2 Chapungu . . . . . . . . . (0) 0
Walter Mukanga and Takesure Chinyama scored a goal in each half as Dynamos comfortably beat Chapungu at Rufaro on Saturday, but there won’t be any fairytale ending to the season for the defending champions after Chicken Inn wrapped up the title with a commanding win over Harare City in Bulawayo with a game to spare.
By Munyaradzi Madzokere
Dynamos have had to perform Houdini Acts to win the Premier Soccer League on the last day for the past four seasons, but this year they found their match in Joey Antipas, who won his second title after his triumph with now defunct Motor Action in 2010.
Going into yesterday’s matches, Dynamos needed the Sunshine Boys to beat Antipas’ log leaders in Bulawayo, while they collected maximum points to remain in the hunt ahead of the final day fixture.
They got the win, but Chicken Inn proved too strong for Harare City and with CAPS United holding FC Platinum to a one-all draw at Mandava, it was end of the road for the Glamour Boys.
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DeMbare coach Tonderai Ndiraya was left to rue three consecutive draws against Harare City, Flame Lily and CAPS United which his team recorded in the last five matches.
“It was always going to be difficult for us to win the title the moment we dropped points against Harare City and the moment we went for about three consecutive draws. It was always going to be difficult for us, but that is football,” Ndiraya said.
“Now we want to finish the season on a high and try and win our remaining match against Buffaloes. We also now shift our focus to the EasyCall Cup because it’s still within our control to win it and we are going to work hard so that we win that silverware.”
Visitors Chapungu looked a determined side against their much-fancied opponents in yesterday’s match and they had the first sniff of a goal when Tatenda Mukuruva dived to the left to turn Gift Phiri’s pile driver round the post early into the match.
However, it was Dynamos who nosed ahead against the run of play when Mukanga beat a static Chapungu defence to control and rifle home a Ronald Chitiyo looping cross in the 14th minute.
Dynamos seemed to have been spurred on by the goal and Chitiyo, who had a blinder of a match, attempted an overhead kick, which sailed over Roy Muzingi’s goal 13 minutes before half time.
News trickling into the stadium that Chicken Inn was leading in Bulawayo seemed to have negatively affected the hosts and Chapungu threatened to overrun them.
Phillip Marufu twice tested Mukuruva‘s resolve from long range late in the first half and in the first minute of the second stanza, but found the young shot stopper unyielding.
Dynamos, now playing counter-attack football after the breather, had chances to extend the lead through Chitiyo and Chinyama, while Tineyi Chitora almost pulled the airmen level with a free header which went just over in the 69th minute.
Chinyama then produced a magic moment to extend Dynamos’ lead in the 85th minute.
The veteran striker received the ball in the centre circle and charged past two Chapungu defenders and slotted the ball past Muzingi as Rufaro reverberated in celebration.
Chapungu coach John Nyikadzino thought his team controlled the match, but failed to utilise chances.
“I think the overall result is deceptive. We were in control of the game and the difference is just that Dynamos managed to score. Our objective is still to be among the top-eight teams at the end of the season,” he said.
