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ONE TEAM, DIFFERENT COLOURS . . . Dynamos players, in the picture on the left, (from left) Ocean Mushure, Roderick Mutuma and Ronald Chitiyo celebrate the Glamour Boys’ first goal, in their black three-quarter warm-up shorts, while in the picture on the right (from left), Chitiyo, Mushure, Blessing Moyo and Washington Pakamisa celebrate their third goal, in their white shorts, at Rufaro yesterday. — (Pictures by William Mafunga)

Ishemunyoro Chingwere Sports Reporter
Harare City. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 3
Dynamos. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . .(1) 5
THOSE who say that the champions are a boring lot, specialists in one-goal victories and a mean defence that gives away very little, needed to be at Rufaro yesterday to see the other side of these amazing Glamour Boys who inched a step closer to winning a fourth straight league title.

Forget about the madness of a goalkeeper whose mind was probably somewhere else, on a day when even Vietnam turned against him, as Artwell Mukandi produced his worst performance since taking over the number one spot from George Chigova.

Or the comedy of them appearing in the first half, with their black three-quarter warm-up shorts, after a clash of colours, and then changing into their white shorts after the interval.

When they needed to get the goals, they just did so, including scoring some of the most beautiful goals you will see on the domestic scene this year, and even when they were under pressure, with reports filtering in from Gwanzura that ZPC Kariba were demolishing Buffaloes, they didn’t crumble.

Instead, they found a way to score more goals, in one match, than their fans can ever remember with Ocean Mushure scoring a beauty, and crashing his free-kick against the crossbar, Washington Pakamisa rising from the bench to score a brace, Cliff Sekete with a rare headed goal and, of course, even the Prince, Roderick Mutuma, ending his goal drought.

This, certainly, can’t be classified as boring.

For long periods, in that second half, the Glamour Boys were giving this impression that, whatever ZPC Kariba can do, we can do even better.

If this year’s Castle Lager Premiership title is to be won by goal difference, then Dynamos are just preparing for that.

By the way, James Jam, former Dynamos striker Francesco Zekumbawire and Osborne Mukuradare were also on target for Harare City.

Despite conceding three goals for the first time this season, the win left Callisto Pasuwa’s men in control of this championship race.

The sizeable crowd which turned up for the match got more than they had bargained for even before the match started with Dynamos turning up for the first half with black three-quarter warm-up shorts after a clash of colours which caused a 14-minute delay.

The Glamour Boys were quick to put their kit blip behind them with their foot on the accelerator from the first whistle and, with better precision, they could have taken, at least, a two-goal lead to the breather.

Barely four minutes on the clock, and with some fans still trickling into the stadium, gangly forward Mutuma headed over a corner by Mushure with Maxwell Nyamupanedengu, in goals for City, at sea.

Mutuma then headed over from close range after the impressive Sekete had sent in an inviting cross.

City’s resolve was finally broken seven minutes before the breather when Mushure’s shot went in off the upright after he was brilliantly set up by Thomas Magorimbo.

Defensive City linkman Jam levelled matters with an equally fine effort from the edge of the box, just three minutes after the break.

But DeMbare restored their lead three minutes later through an unmarked Sekete, who placed his header home, with no challenge, from inside the box after being picked out by Ronald Chitiyo.

Zekumbawire responded with a 25- metre volley, a beauty, but Mukandi was badly positioned on a day when all City’s realistic attempts at goal ended in the back of his net.

His return was further spoiled when he toiled with the ball in a moment of madness and lost possession from which Osbourne Mukuradare won a penalty, which he stepped up to convert, and cut the deficit after DeMbare had taken a 4-2 lead.

But before City’s third goal, skipper David Kutyauripo had seen red — for a second bookable offence — after impeding a glory bound Chitiyo, who had weaved his way past three defenders.

Mushure crushed the resultant freekick against the cross bar and the rebound fell kindly for second half substitute Pakamisa to head home.

Mushure’s freekicks were proving to be handful for City and he would return with another one which nestled into Nyamupanedengu’s goal off Mutuma’s header.

Pakamisa then iced the cake three minutes from time with a well-executed left-footer after brilliant interplay involving Simba Sithole and Mutuma.

After the match, Harare City supporters registered their displeasure with coach Masimba Dinyero for sticking with Nyamupanedengu, whom they felt is not a competent custodian of their goal.

Dynamos’ five goals means Nyamupanedengu has conceded eight goals in two matches having shipped in three against Buffaloes at the weekend.

But Dinyero remained adamant he still is the best man for the job.

“He is the best that we have so far, so I cannot drop him. I am very disappointed with the result because we conceded many silly goals which we could have avoided,” said Dinyero.

“We tended to lose concentration each time we levelled the scores and as a result we got punished, but we will regroup and pick up the pieces, it’s still game on.”

His opposite number, Pasuwa, expressed reservations with Mukandi’s showing which he, however, felt might be a result of lack of fitness.

“We are not looking at the title as yet. We just want to take each game as it comes because these teams tend to surprise us if we underrate them.

“He (Mukandi) is coming from an injury so we will have to talk to the doctors and look at his fitness, otherwise we are happy with the three points,” said Pasuwa.

Teams:
Harare City: M Nyamupanedengu, C Dickson (T. Chimwemwe, 93rd min), D Kutyauripo, W Manondo, R Uchena, T Chawapiwa, A Chivheya, T Ngulube (O Mukuradare 45th min), A Chaka, J Jam, F Zekumbawire.

Dynamos: A Mukandi, B Moyo, O Mushure, T Ndlovu, A Mbara, T Magorimbo, C Sekete (T Rusike 71st min), S Sithole, R Mutuma (B Amidu 92nd min), A Gondo (W Pakamisa 56th min), R Chitiyo

TOP TWO’S REMAINING THREE GAMES
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