Dynamos 1-0 Harare City; Chicken Inn 0-0 Highlanders
OCEAN Mushure broke Harare City's resistance with a stunning last gasp winner at Rufaro on Wednesday to send Dynamos two points clear at the top of the Premier League table.
Title rivals Highlanders – who were level on points at the start of the day – extended their unbeaten start to the season to 21 matches with a 0-0 draw against Chicken Inn at Barbourfields, but they paid the price for dropping too many points. The draw was their eighth this season.
With the final whistle approaching at Rufaro, Mushure took matters into his own foot as he volleyed home the winner from the 30 yards out.
The former Lengthens defender – an oasis of commitment throughout the match – had never scored for Dynamos before this special strike which marked a significant shift in the title race.
Dynamos assistant coach Tonderai Ndiraya reflected: “It was a wonderful goal, well executed. It’s a candidate for goal of the season and it came from the unlikeliest source.
“It was a special goal.”
Ndiraya admitted the defeat was harsh on Harare City, who won the reverse fixture.
“They put up a good fight. They controlled the match especially in the first half. In the period, they were very dangerous. It wasn’t a good performance by us. We were a bit shaky but I think we took control towards the end and created a good number of chances which we failed to put away.”
Dynamos striker Farai Mupasiri had an opening two minutes into the match but headed over.
Bigboy Mawiwi’s Harare City, inspired by skipper Godfrey Nguwodzawo, then took charge of the match as they created a string of opportunities only to be let down by poor finishing.
Raphael Manuvire shook his head in disbelief as his shot bounced off the upright on 19 minutes after being put through by Nathan Ziwini.
Dynamos, pinned back for long periods of the opening 45 minutes, were reduced to long range speculative shots such as Tawanda Muparati’s 36th minute effort which never troubled John Nomore.
Dynamos were much improved in the second period, with Cliff Sekete and Martin Vengesayi coming close shortly after the restart.
Rodreck Mutuma and Guthrie Zhokinyu also threatened with headed opportunities but Harare City were good for the point until Mushure arrived on the scene two minutes from the end.
Mawiwi rued the chances his team wasted but admitted Mushure’s strike was worthy of winning any match.
“We controlled the match for long periods but we missed a number of chances and got punished by a wonder goal.”