Dembare cuts gap

Tenax 0 - 2 Dynamos
Two late goals by substitutes Ralph Kawondera and Emmanuel Paga ensured an important and dramatic win for Dynamos over a spirited Tenax in a league match at Vengere Stadium in Rusape yesterday.

The Harare giants appeared destined for a frustrating afternoon as they struggled to break a dogged opponent but Kawondera bundled home in 89th minute to end the resistance.

Paga made sure of the points in the first minute of injury time when he fired home at  the near post to earn his team a third straight victory.

The win moved Dynamos back into second position with 45 points, cutting the gap to FC Platinum at the summit to six points after the miners were held to a 1-1 draw by Black Rhinos on Saturday.

Dynamos coach Tonderai Ndiraya was naturally a happy man at the final whistle.

"It was a very difficult match and we expected it. Before the match we spoke about the condition of the pitch and the need for us to quickly adjust to the conditions but it took us time," Ndiraya said.

"But, we were not consistent, we were not building up play. We were just pumping the ball forward and in the end, it became very difficult for us to really create chances and penetrate.

"They matched us and it became difficult for us to find spaces but I'm happy with the resilience of the boys. The changes that we made brought in some energy, especially upfront and in the end, we managed to get two late goals. They were late and of course you don't want to do that. You want to kill of the match early but football is played for 90 minutes plus so I'm happy we scored and that is what is important in the end. We deserved to win, we had so many opportunities which I thought in these conditions we should have put away. We are going to learn to do that, to punish the teams when we get the half chances. Overall I'm impressed with the fighting spirit."

He said the weekend's round of results have reopened the title race, with third placed Chicken Inn who are par on points with Dynamos also in the thick of things.

"The race is quite open. We still have 10 matches to go and a lot of things is going to happen in those matches. There is going to be lot of ups and downs."

Tenax remain in the throes of relegation, second from bottom on 21 points.

Their coach Isaac Nengomasha blamed his team's late collapse on lack of concentration.

"The boys failed to concentrate until the final whistle and we were punished," Nengomasha said.

"I'm happy with the boys though. We still have a lot of points to fight for in the battle against relegation. The performance we showed in the past two games gives us hope. What we just need is to take our moments. We created some chances and unfortunately, we couldn't score. We need to be solid at the back and be clinical in front of goal for us to survive."

Both teams struggled for fluidity in the opening exchanges and chances were hard to come by.

The first real opportunity arrived midway through the half when Tenax striker Theophilus Musiteyi flashed his header wide.

DeMbare's Godknows Murwira stung the palms of Tenax goalkeeper Philip Makumi moments later with a long-range volley. Returning King Nadolo then watched in disbelief as his header from a corner was blocked on the line late in the first half.

Dynamos returned from the break with renewed energy but almost found themselves behind on the 51st minute when Tashinga Pfende's thunderous freekick from just outside the centre circle crashed against the cross bar.

Ndiraya made some tactical changes to add some energy early in the second half.

Kawondera could have found the opener on the hour mark but his shot was blocked inside a congested box before Paga's header was cleared off the line moments later.

The Ghanaian then volleyed over as Dynamos desperately searched for a breakthrough late on.

Just when it looked like DeMbare had dropped two points, substitute Emmanuel Jalai crossed to find Kawondera who bundled the ball over the line.

A quick passing move then opened the Tenax defense wide open with another substitute Issa Sadiki providing the pass that released Paga to run clear and easily beat Makumi at his near post for his seventh goal of the season.

Teams

Tenax: P Makumi, D Marara, P Shumbaimwe, T Pfende, C  Musimwa (J Jambo, 62′), E Gavara, S Munemero, T Mapara (J Munsaka, 65′), A Manyamba (M Shonga, 70′), P Mutasa, T Musiteyi (M Dumbura, 70′)

Dynamos: T Mvula, T Muringai, P Jaure, G Murwira, S Appiah, B Mpofu (E Jalai, 50′), K Murera (R Kawondera, 50′), Nadolo, T Makanda (E Paga, 46′), A Orotomal (E Katema, 46′)