ROONEY, YOU BEAUTY!

RONALD CHITIYO
Robson Sharuko Senior Sports Editor—

IT’S not every weekend that football fans at Anfield, the KC Stadium and Rufaro are treated to a similar sumptuous menu of special goals, dripping in quality, they all leave a lasting impression among those who were privileged to be witnesses. Neither does it happen every Sunday that the loyal patrons of Rufaro go back home and, in describing a wonder goal they saw at the stadium, use a goal scored by a Manchester City millionaire forward, during the same weekend, as an example to illustrate the beauty of what they saw.

It’s not every weekend that the Dynamos fans, just like their Everton counterparts, can say that we were beneficiaries of a stunning late goal that was a game-changing moment in a fierce contest in which the dogged opponents gave them a good run.

Shabanie Mine aren’t anything close to Liverpool, five-time champions of Europe, or Hull City, who were runners-up in the English FA Cup last season, and whose owner Assem Allan is reported to be worth more than £317 million.

But the Zvishavane asbestos miners produced a solid performance at Rufaro on Sunday, standing toe-to-toe with the champions, with an impressive defensive show in which the ageless Zvenyika Makonese, provided with the spotlight where he thrives, rolled back the years with a vintage show.

Just over a decade after coming to national prominence, when Sunday Chidzambwa handed him a place in the Warriors’ team that beat Malawi to win the 2003 Cosafa Cup, Makonese’s football journey has gone full circle as he finds himself back at the club where he started it all, in the top-flight, before venturing into South Africa.

But the 37-year-old defender was impressive, as he marshalled the Shabanie defence, leading from the front as a true skipper and giving very little to the Dynamos attack, in their backyard, as he towered above everyone in that defensive zone.

However, Makonese’s heroics, and a good show by goalkeeper Victor Twaliki, could not stop Dynamos from taking maximum points as Ronald “Rooney” Chitiyo struck the decisive goal, very late in the game, to keep the Glamour Boys top of the domestic Premiership.

Having failed, all afternoon to find a way once the ball was pushed into the penalty area where Makonese and Smart Muchabaiwa were rock solid, Chitiyo decided to try from distance and, on the first occasion, his bullet shot was punched away for a corner by the ‘keeper.

But, with five minutes left in regulation time, the diminutive former Monomotapa forward struck gold with a goal that was full value for the three priceless points on offer as Rufaro heaved a huge sigh of relief and the champions just preserved their leadership of the championship race.

Having switched to the left channel of the attack, Chitiyo took possession and the killer instinct in him was switched on, in an instant, even though there was a human wall of Shabanie defenders, with four men inside the area, one shadowing him on that flank and another just outside the area.

Two touches, while on the move all the time with a sudden change of pace that was remarkable for this stage of the game, eliminated the man who was shadowing him, but still even though Chitiyo had created an opening for himself, distance and the angle appeared to be against him.

But, without breaking stride, the diminutive forward let go a shot, so powerful, it flew from his boots and into the top corner at pace Twaliki, who had been impressive all afternoon, was never given any chance with his dive merely a formality, just in case his teammates blamed him for not trying, and Rufaro roared to salute its genius.

“It’s a contender for Goal of the Season,” Charles Mabika, who has seen some great goals at Rufaro during a journalism career stretching long before Chitiyo was born, told The Herald.
DeMbare’s own Rooney had just struck a superb goal in a weekend in which the real Rooney, captain of Manchester United, had also scored a beautiful goal at Old Trafford to inspire the Red Devils to a 2-1 win over a battle West Ham.

Chitiyo’s goal appeared to be a carbon copy of the one that Edin Dzeko scored for Manchester City, at the KC Stadium, in doubling the English champions’ advantage in their match against Hull City, turning Liam Rosenir and then expertly curling it into the top corner.

DeMbare were ordinary, for long periods in the game, but when they have players like Chitiyo, who can make a difference with one move, the Glamour Boys know that on such fine margins, championships can be won.

“It’s like we have been keeping Ronald in the team because he is one guy who can make something out of nothing,” said Dynamos coach Callisto Pasuwa.
Chitiyo’s goal came six minutes earlier than the one Everton skipper Phil Jagielka scored, a thunderous drive from about 22 metres, swinging his right foot and catching the ball sweetly to bury his effort into the top corner for Everton’s equaliser in their Merseyside Derby against Liverpool at Anfield.

United’s Rooney’s goal was caressed into the nets from inside the box, DeMbare’s Rooney was caressed into the nets from a distance, outside the box and struck with power and a spin that helped it curl home, but both were decisive goals.

The Media On Dzeko’s Goal
“It took just four minutes for things to get worse for the hosts. Silva found room to release a pass to Dzeko on the corner of the penalty area, from where the Bosnia striker cut inside Liam Rosenior before lashing in a sweet right-footed shot to make it 2-0.” — The Guardian.

“A superb Edin Dzeko brace helped Manchester City on their way to all three points on Saturday although the Premier League champions were pushed all the way by Hull.” — PA.
“Within four minutes the Blues were two up, with Aguero the mastermind this time, picking up the ball in a central position and feeding the marauding David Silva.
“He kept the ball moving out to Dzeko on the left and he turned inside the full back before unleashing a stunning finish in to the far top corner,” — Manchester Evening News.
“Manchester City take just 11 minutes to double their lead with Edin Dzeko scoring his first league goal of the season with a sweet curling effort into the top corner from 20 yards,” — MailOnline.

The Media On Jagielka’s Goal
“What a goal! Phil Jagielka, who has not scored in two years, with a tremendous half-volley which whistled into the top corner, giving goalkeeper Mignolet no chance.
“Unbelievable from the defender.
“Right-footed, clean as you like, right in front of the Kop,” — Adam Shergold, covering the game live on MailOnline

“Unreal. Everton are level Phil Jagielka with a goal of the season contender.
“He must have been 30 yards out — the ball falls to him on the volley and wooof! Pick that one out! Everyone is still a little shocked at Anfield. Jagielka’s goal was as good as you’ll see,” — Joshua Evans, covering the game live for The Mirror.

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