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TOGETHER AS ONE . . . Patrick Khumbula (left) is congratulated by his teammates Tafadzwa Rusike (right) and Ronald Chitiyo after grabbing Dynamos’ winner at Chishamiso yesterday. (Picture by Paul Mundandi)

Oscar Rusenga in Chiredzi
Chiredzi FC…………..0
Dynamos FC……..(1)1
CALLISTO PASUWA sent into battle a strong attack-minded side and the reward was still a lone goal as the champions laboured to victory over Chiredzi FC in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League encounter at Chisha- miso yesterday.Dynamos’ Achilles heel in their inconsistent start to the season has been their strike force which has struggled to find the target.

After the controversy that clouded their 1-0 victory over FC Platinum courtesy of defender Ocean Mushure’s penalty, Dynamos went into battle seeking a more convincing show in the final third.

Pasuwa started with five attackers — Simba Sithole, Patrick Khumbula, Ronald Chitiyo, Tafadzwa Rusike and Russell Madamombe – with the hardworking Stephen Alimenda deployed  in a holding role and operating just in front of defenders Partson Jaure, Temba Ndlovu, Ocean Mushure and rookie Blessing Moyo.

But it was not until the 34th minute that Dynamos managed to break the Chiredzi resistance when Khumbula fired home what proved to be the winner.

Pasuwa’s intention to get more goals was also evidenced by the three substitutes that he threw into the fray — Cliff Sekete for Madamombe shortly before the break, and Washington Pakamisa and Tichaona Mabvura for Khumbula and Chitiyo later in the second period but the return was still just one goal.

The Dynamos coach revealed his worry about their lack of precision but was relieved that in yesterday’s game, the goal that won them full points had come from a striker and had been scored from open play.

Pasuwa also said he remained confident that DeMbare would soon find their rhythm but was happy to note that “we are still managing to get full points even when we are playing badly so it means we can only get better’’.

“In the first half we were second to the ball and we were leaving too many gaps in central midfield. We are also still missing chances . . . Tafadzwa Rusike from the six yard box, shot over the bar and we just have to keep working hard to correct that.

“When you are playing badly but still getting the points then you can only get better,’’ Pasuwa said.

Despite Chiredzi suffering their sixth defeat from nine matches, Chunga is not pressing the panic button just yet and bravely said he would only start to worry when he reviews his team’s position at the halfway mark of the season.

Chiredzi only have fine points, three above Harare City, who swap positions with them today if the Sunshine Boys overcome Black Rhinos at Rufaro.

“We are not creating enough problems to the opposition and we are not taking our chances, we are creating the chances but you cannot win when you hit the side net with an yawning goal in front of you.

“We can derive some positives from our performance and we just have to get goals to uplift the team, you cannot defend forever.
“I will only get worried when we get to the halfway mark and don’t count us out yet we are still within reach of the four teams above us,’’ Chunga said.

Yet it was Chiredzi who had got off to a promising start and played better in an otherwise lukewarm affair.

The hosts could have also stolen a late equaliser in the first of the four minutes of time added on but they found a stumbling block in Warriors goalkeeper George Chigova, who dived to his right to block a powerful header by Chiredzi defender Jimmy Dzingai.

Pasuwa also reckoned that his charges may have underestimated Chiredzi and was not happy with the way they played especially in the first half where the hosts appeared more purposeful.

“We tend to relax when we play these so-called small teams. They (Chiredzi) were a better side in the first half and they could have buried us in the first period,” Pasuwa said.

Barely two minutes into the game, former DeMbare winger Abel Gwatidzo, shot over the bar inside the 18-yard box with opposition defenders at sea.

Exciting midfielder Ronald Chitiyo, who had rather a quiet game, did well in the seventh minute by beating off the challenge of right back Gift Kwaramba but his shot inside the box flew over the bar.

The home side had a good game in the first half but they failed to turn their dominance into goals.

It was Chiredzi-born and bred player Khumbula who had the last laugh after scoring the only goal of the match in the 34th minute.
Mushure did well to find the speedy Khumbula just outside the box and the bustling forward beat two markers, attempted to take a crack at goal with his left foot before opting for his right after noticing that Chiredzi goalkeeper Stephen Chimusoro had come off his line and narrowed the angle on the left.

Three minutes later Khumbula could have doubled the DeMbare lead but he headed wide off a cross by Sithole.

After the break Dynamos came back a much better side but as has been the case with the defending champions, they fluffed the chances that came their way in this period and failed to add to add onto Khumbula’s goal.

Chimusoro, who had a good day between the sticks denied the visitors the second goal of the game after saving a Sithole header in the 47th minute.

Sithole again brought the best out of  Chimusoro with a shot from about 30metres away.

Chiredzi right winger Tapiwa Dephistara did well to beat his marker  before sending an inviting cross but striker Malvern Gaki was shrugged off the ball by Partson Jaure in the 61st minute.

A glorious chance then went begging for Chiredzi in the 65th minute, when Gwatidzo lacked both precision and patience to hit the target with Chigova and his defenders beaten and the young forward could only hit the side of the netting much to the disappointment of his coach Chunga and his teammates.

On the other end, Dynamos had another good chance to add another goal when Rusike, who was having a good game, failed to beat Chimusoro in a one–on-one situation in the 78th minute with the diminutive forward blazing over.