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BATTLE ROYALE . . . Dynamos striker Rodreck Mutuma and CAPS United defender George Nyirenda stumble as they fight for possession while the Green Machine midfielder Hardlife Zvirekwi (left) looks on during the NetOne OneWallet quarter-final showdown at the National Sports Stadium yesterday — Picture by Tawanda Mudimu

Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
Dynamos…………………….(0)1
CAPS United…………………..0
EXACTLY a week ago, when Dynamos needed a hero to win the Harare Derby, Rodreck Mutuma was presented with a golden chance, and fluffed it badly he was even mocked by the opposition as a thrilling contest ended goalless.

Yesterday, with the Glamour Boys crying out for a hero, Mutuma was again given a golden opportunity to deliver the killer blow and, this time, the self-styled Prince did not come short and, in just seven days, had completed his transformation from villain to hero.

Ronald Pfumbidzai was not laughing at him this time around and, with his jersey removed and tossed to the ground in a moment of undistilled joy, the bare-chested Mutuma soaked in the applause as the DeMbare fans stood in salute.

This was the Prince playing the starring role, right in the place that he loves, and after just one right connection, on an afternoon that could have gone horribly wrong and remembered for his incredible miss when he crashed his header against the post when it looked impossible to miss, he had written his name into the headlines.

Dynamos, of course, had powered to another win over CAPS United, how routine is this turning out to be, and their fans were singing, “Hatichina wekutamba naye”, after the game and, with Highlanders out of the NetOne One Wallet Cup, maybe they were right.

Mutuma, making his third start since coming back from an unhappy stint in South Africa, appears determined to make his presence felt after scoring his second goal for the Harare giants and powering them into the semi-finals of the NetOne Wallet Cup.

He was at the right place, at the right time, inside the box to meet a good pass from substitute Simba Sithole first time, beating goalkeeper Jorum Muchambo in the 79th minute, to settle this tight contest of a game that failed to scale the heights touched when the two giants met in a league tie last week.

Dynamos coach Callisto Pasuwa has often revealed his concerns about his side’s strike-force but yesterday he had special compliments for Mutuma’s industry and courage to take the responsibility upfront.

The striker twice came close to scoring with headers but came short in both halves yesterday.
Mutuma announced his return to the DeMbare fold with a headed goal in a league match against Black Rhinos two weeks ago but last week he messed up some good opportunities in the first leg of the Harare Derby.

DeMbare and CAPS United ground out a 1-1 draw in a league match last week.
Interestingly, the giants were drawn against each other in the quarter-finals of the One Wallet Cup and there were high expectations from both sets of supporters.
There had to be a winner in this game, with the prospects of heading straight into the penalty shootout, in case of a stalemate in regulation time.

However, Pasuwa yesterday said he had confidence in his players as he had stressed to them that they did not want the match to go to the penalties.
“It was a matter of time, the goals were going to come. I have been talking to these players. Some of them are running away from the box but he (Mutuma) is one guy who is always in the 16-yard box looking for goals and as a result he got that goal.

“It was a Cup game, so we were saying we shouldn’t have to sit back, we had to attack because we didn’t want to go to the penalties,” said Pasuwa.
DeMbare joined How Mine, Chicken Inn and Triangle who are now set for another draw in the semi-finals of the tournament.

Dynamos midfielder Ronald Chitiyo, for all his brilliance, twice could have done better for his team in the first half but his touch betrayed him.
Chitiyo found himself unmarked at the end of a corner kick by Augustine Mbara but could not connect his shot well with 20 minutes played.

Soon he was sent through the middle by Washington Pakamisa, whose industry shone brightly and caught the eye of the fans who protested the decision to withdraw him, following a good move by Mutuma on the right and disappointingly sent his shot over the bar.

Then CAPS United suffered a setback when their defender David Chipala was taken out injured with a dislocated knee cap when he failed to land, on the uneven surface, having won possession.

Coach Taurai Mangwiro had to throw into the fray the untested Malawian import George Nyirenda for his first match.
With their chief striker Dominic Chungwa not available for this match, Makepekepe were always found wanting upfront as Leonard Fiyado and Pervington Zimunya failed to take the initiative against DeMbare’s makeshift defence.

Zimbabwe international Hardlife Zvirekwi was inspirational for Makepekepe but their forays always lacked the killer punch.
The Dynamos technical side had to pair Themba Ndlovu with Augustine Mbara in the place of Partson Jaure who is expected to complete his move to South Africa’s Pretoria University this week.

Pasuwa also gave their new player Fabrice Mbimba a run in the last 15 minutes.
The win left Dynamos with the bragging rights they have often claimed in the last five years of their rivalry.

Mangwiro said it was another bad day in the office against the arch-rivals.
“It was a fierce contest but we went to sleep and they punished us. We wanted to progress and we fought very hard. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough.

“But overall we did well. We were also taking the game to them. I thought we were in there with a chance. I don’t think there was much to separate the teams today.
“We were matching each other pound-for-pound. Unfortunately, we conceded at the most crucial point of the game and it was always difficult to come back. Tough luck to the CAPS United family, let’s live to fight another day,” said Mangwiro.

Teams
Dynamos: A. Mukandi,  B. Moyo,  O.Mushure,  A. Mbara,  T. Ndlovu,  S. Alimenda,  R. Madamombe (Mupasiri, 59th minute),  R. Chitiyo,  M. Murape (Sithole, 72nd minute),  R. Mutuma,  W. Pakamisa (Mbimba, 72nd minute)

CAPS Utd: J. Muchambo,  T. Khumbuyani,  D. Chipala (Nyirenda, 30th minute),  S. Makatuka,  R. Pfumbidzai,  T. Samanja,  D. Mukandi (Muchenje, 83rd minute), G. Phiri (Thindwa, 61st minute),  H. Zvirekwi,  P . Zimunya, L. Fiyado,