Dembare bite the dust

Dynamos  1 - 2 Motor Action

Motor Action on Wednesday dumped Dynamos out of the Independence Cup final in a game played at Rufaro Stadium.

Gift Phiri was the star of the day hitting a brace for Motor Action while Dynamos replied through a penalty by Roderick Mutuma.

The game was affected by heavy rains.

DeMbare were missing their chief striker Takesure Chinyama who was rested for the match. Mutuma was red carded for a second bookable offence.

The match yesterday failed to provide the spark and the slippery conditions even made it a big yawn.

Dynamos coach Callisto Pasuwa elected to rest most of the players who were in starting eleven during the African Champions League first round, second leg match against Mozambican side Liga Muculamana at the same venue on Sunday.

Pasuwa largely sought to give the players who had been warming up the bench a chance to start but the fringe players literally failed to come to the party as the Mighty Bulls elbowed them out of the Uhuru Trophy.

Dynamos started with Washington Arubi who captained the team while Mutuma, who was expelled towards the end,  was the only other player to start the game from the side that beat Liga Muculumana 10.

There were first team places for veteran defender Guthrie Zhokinyi and Gift Bello who played in central defence while Augustine Mbara and Timire Mamvura operated on the wingbacks.

Leo Kurauzvione played in defensive link while Wonder Sithole, Tineyi Chitora and Tawanda Muparati also formed the midfield while Vengesayi was helping Mutuma upfront.

Inform striker Takesure Chinyama, Murape Murape, George Magariro, Milton Makopa, Denver Mukamba, Devon Chafa and Ocean Mushure were rested for the semi-final match.

Patson Jaure came from the bench to replace an injured Kurauzvione as  Dynamos created a few chances in the early stage but failed to convert with Vengesayi and Mutuma missing chances.

It was Phiri who stunned the Dembare when he curled the ball from the edge of the box as it sailed past Arubi in the 7th minute.

Mutuma received his first caution unnecessarily  from referee Pedzisai Chadya for playing the ball after the whistle had gone off.

The self-styled Prince, Mutuma, could have evened the scores in the 27th minute when he created space on the left flank after beating Motor Action stand-in captain Passmore Bernard as he charged into the box.

But Mutuma appeared to hold to the ball for too long as his pass was intercepted before Vengesayi could take a crack at goal.

Vengesayi then created another opportunity as he laid a pass for Sithole, whose effort was saved by Jani in the 31st minute.

Motor Action sought to increase their lead as Isaac Masame whipped in a freekick that went just over the bar in the 35th minute but the match, which was big yawn, turned into another comedy when some fans from the eastern, southern and northern stands invaded the pitch as they went to the western grand stand in fear of a heavy downpour.

Police battled to contain the situation and there was stoppage of nearly five minutes before sanity was restored.

Chitora could have pulled a goal back soon after the re-start but the former Blue Ribbon talisman lacked precision while some fans who had remained in the notorious Vietman stand took matters into their hands as they threw some missiles towards second assistant referee Shelton Mushanguri after Vengesayi had been fouled.

The heavens then opened up and the rains made play slippery as both teams failed to string neat passes but it was Dynamos who could have scored 64th minute when the pacey Vengesayi charged into the box and managed to beat Jani but Dominic Mukandi managed to clear.

The ball went into the path of Muparati who struck a low shot that deflected off Mutuma to give Motor Action a goalkick.

Football gods then punished Dynamos for spurning such an offer as Masame raced towards goal while Arubi made an attempt to narrow the angle.

Masame fed Lawe who then slotted past Arubi for Motor Action's second in the 67th minute.

Dembare, who never rose to the expected challenge and lacked the determination, were luck to salvage a goal after Chadya gave them a penalty kick following a challenge by Benard on Vengesayi.

Benard was shown a yellow card and upstepped Mutuma to score and tempers began to flare as Motor Action players employed delaying tactics while Dynamos players were impatient to have the match re-started.

During the madness, Mutuma made contact with Jani but the veteran goalkeeper appeared to make a drama of it as he wriggled on the ground and the antics earned Mutuma a second yellow with two minutes before the end of the match.

After the match Motor Action assistant coach Prince Matore was happy to grind out a victory which will set them a date against either Hwange or FC Platinum who are playing in the other semifinal today.

Meanwhile, the other semi-final pitting Hwange and FC Platinum is in doubt today due to match venue confusion.

Initially the game was set for Barbourfields Stadium in Bulawayo but Zifa changed it to Mandava in Zvishabane.

This has not gone down well with the coal miners who indicated that they would not travel to Zvishabane.


Teams
Dynamos: W. Arubi, L. Kurauzvione (P. Jaure 32nd min), G. Zhikonyi, G. Bello, T. Mamvura, T. Muparati, A. Mbara, T. Chitora (F. Mupasira 62nd min) R. Mutuma, M. Vengesayi W. Sithole (T. Mabvura 67th min)
Motor Action: M. Jani, Y. Ebabali (T. Masuku 75th min), J. Jam, P. Benard, D. Mukandi, B. Chimwamuchere, M. Kadzola, I. Lawe (M. Ncube 66th min), N. Maroto (P. Kabwe 66th min), I. Masame, G. Phiri.