The Sunday Mail
Dynamos……..(2) 4
Highlanders …..(0) 1
SIMBA SITHOLE scored a memorable brace and set up another as Dynamos crushed Highlanders in a heavily lopsided TM Pick n Pay Challenge Cup tie at the National Sports Stadium.
On fire gangly striker Rodreck Mutuma , who was set up by the unplayable Sithole also found the target, and substitute Washington Pakamisa also found the target as DeMbare powered their way to the trophy and $60 000 winner’s cheque.
Bosso’s consolation goal came from Felix Chindungwe.
Bosso trooped into the giant facility oozing with confidence as they looked psyched up to finally break the jinx that has seen them play second fiddle to DeMbare in the last eight years.
They dominated the early exchanges but could not trouble Artwell Mukandi and when DeMbare found their groove the result of the match was never in doubt.
Sithole opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, tapping home a nod-back from the skilful Ronald “Rooney” Chitiyo.
It was Sithole’s first goal of the season and his celebration said it all.
Man of the Match Tafadzwa “Fire” Rusike, a menace on the left flank throughout the encounter, had done well, beating an out of sorts Eric Mudzingwa before flighting an inviting cross that was headed into the path of Sithole by the pint-sized Chitiyo.
Sithole completed his brace in the 31st minute when he capitalized on a Bosso defensive mix up to bundle the ball past Bosso keeper Ariel Sibanda.
Highlanders coach Kelvin Kaindu, who had threatened revenge before kick-off, panicked and pulled out the dreadlocked Hillary Madzivanyika who was playing a twin defensive link role with Chindungwe, for the more offensive Rahman Kutsanzira six minutes before the breather.
The move back fired as Bosso were exposed, with Chitiyo now finding more himself in acres of space to perform his tricks while Rusike never ceased tormenting Mudzingwa on the lefty channel.
Kaindu threw his last dice four minutes after resumption, bringing on the duo of new boy Simba Sithole and the Gabriel Nyoni for Pasca Manhanga and Njabulo Ncube as he searched for answers, but it was DeMbare who extended their lead in the 54th minute.
Mutuma who had seemed off duty for the better part of the first half, coolly slotted home a fine hard and low cross from the left by Sithole who had been played into space by captain of the day Thomas Magorimbo.
DeMbare substitute Anesu Gondo had two clear chances to extend the lead while Mutuma’s clever chip was well read by goalie Sibanda before Bosso defensive linkman Chindungwe reduced the arrears in the 83rd minute, scrambling the ball home in a goal mouth melee.
The goal added some impetus to the Bosso attack whose chief striker Charles Sibanda displayed some fancy footwork but lacked support from his rather switched off partners.
Their mini revival was dealt a massive blow when Pakamisa beat an ill-timed off side trap and curled the ball beyond the reach of a drawn out Sibanda to spark wild celebrations among the DeMbare supporters.
Credit should go to referee Thabani Bamala who was on top of this usually volatile clash and got requisite assistance from Bongani Gadzikwa and Thomas Kusosa who ran the lines.
Dynamos: A. Mukandi, B. Moyo, T. Magorimbo, T. Ndlovu (E. Muroiwa 84th), A. Mbara, S. Alimenda, R. Chitiyo, R. Mutuma (A. Gondo 69th), T. Rusike, S. Sithole (W. Pakamisa 68th), W. Mukanga
Highlanders: A. Sibanda, C. Sibanda, B. Kangwa, I. Mapuranga, H. Madzivanyika (R. Kutsanzira 39th), F. Chindungwe, D. Ndlovu, E. Mudzingwa, J. Ngodzo, N. Ncube (S. Sithole 49th), P. Manhanga (G. Nyoni 49th)
