Dembare lucky to get a draw

Chicken Inn  0 - 0 Dynamos
DEFENDING champions Dynamos should thank their stars for leaving Barbourfields Stadium with a point after surviving a barrage of attacks from Chicken Inn in a none scoring draw in a free flowing Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match played at Barbourfields Stadium in Bulawayo yesterday.

The Gamecocks shut DeMbare out of the match for most parts of the encounter and Dynamos have goalkeeper Artwell Mukandi to thank as he came up with a number of superb saves to make sure the defending champions returned to Harare with a point in the bag.

Chicken Inn were first to attack with four minutes played, Canaan Nkomo unleashing a powerful left footer from outside the box which was saved by Mukandi. Ten minutes later, Thomas Chimenya, scorer of the goal which earned Chicken In a 1-0 win over Hwange last Sunday did well to see off the challenge of Dynamos defender Themba Ndlovu only to be slow in reaction when it was time to shoot at goal allowing Dynamos to avert the danger.

Dynamos had their first attempt at goal after 17 minutes through Murape Murape from an Ocean Mushure free kick.

Referee Nkosana Nduna had to stop play when fans at  the famous Soweto stand threw in a ball when Dynamos were in attack, which resulted in having two balls on the field of play at the same time.

Dynamos came alive in the last 10 minutes of the match and almost punished Chicken Inn when Devon Chafa dispossessed Thabani Goredema of the ball, sent through Anesu Gondo who shot wide.

With six minutes to play in the first half, Chicken Inn defender John Bernard forced Mukandi into another brilliant save.

Dynamos could have taken the lead going into halftime, with Gondo slow to react to a fine delivery into the box from Washington Pakamisa.

The visitors continued with their attacking act in the second half with Pakamisa's effort saved by Chicken Inn goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze eight minutes into the second period.

Bernard once more drew out a fine stop from Mukandi with a well taken free kick from outside the box.
Chicken Inn skipper Moses Jackson nearly gifted Dynamos with a goal when his back pass was almost intercepted by Patrick Kumbula with Chipezeze doing well to boot the ball out of danger.

Reigning soccer star of the year Tawanda Muparati could have put his name on the scoresheet a minute after coming in for Ronald Chitiyo after a fine cross from Blessing Moyo which he could not connect.

With five minutes to play, Bernard had another effort saved by Mukandi from a free kick which was pushed out for a corner.

Chicken Inn coach Joey Antipas said the draw was a fair result for his side whom he felt fizzled out in the last 10 minutes of the first half and the early stages of the second period.

"This was an evenly contested match, a draw is a fair result. We fizzled out late in the first half and early in the second but I think we came back well in the last 20 minutes," said Antipas.

Dynamos mentor Kalisto Pasuwa was happy with a point taken away from home since Chicken Inn played better than his team for most parts of the game.

"We had to pick up a point since the opposition played well. We missed a number of clear cut goal scoring opportunities and we have to work on our goal scoring," Pasuwa said.

Teams
Chicken Inn: Elvis Chipezeze, Moses Jackson, Devine Lunga, John Bernard, Lawrence Mhlanga, Brian Juru, Thabani Goredema, Clemence Matawu, Canaan Nkomo(B Ncube 66 mins), Thomas Chimenya( T Mukambi 76 mins), Ishmael Lawe( G Majika 90 mins)

Dynamos : Artwell Mukandi, Blessing Moyo, Ocean Mushure, Partson Jaure, Themba Ndlovu, Stephen Alimenda, Devon Chafa, Ronald Chitiyo(T Muparati 81 mins), Washington Pakamisa, Anesu Gondo(P Kumbula 68 mins) , Murape Murape( C Sekete 59 mins).
Match officials
Referee: Nkosana Nduna
First Assistant Referee: Salani Ncube
Second Assistant Referee: Brilliant Sibanda
Fourth Official: Tambudzai Tavengwa
Match Commissioner: Sabelo Maphosa
Estimated Crowd: 1 500.