Dynamos slash Monomotapa's lead with emphatic win

• Monomotapa, Dynamos set up tantalising season finale

• Monomotapa get in mood for big party

• Mandigora gives up title hope as Dynamos fall

• Njube Sundowns, Zim Saints merger unlikely

• Majabvi rescues Dynamos as cholera halts Monos title charge

• CAPS United complete season cup double

• Dynamos' title defence falters after Gunners draw

• Sparks fly as 2008 Soccer Stars selected

• Monomotapa, Dynamos in dead heat

• Dynamos riots that shamed football

• Dynamos cut Monomotaopa lead to 10 points

• Dynamos held by Highlanders

• Dynamos through to CBZ Cup semis

• Monomotapa open 12-point lead

• Motor Action, Kiglon join top four

• Dynamos beat Chapungu, move into third

• Dynamos thump Railstars, through to CBZ Cup quarter finals

• H'landers chairman faces wrath of fans

• Chunga leads battle to save Gunners

• CAPS end 3-year cup drought

• Violence flares up as H'landers booted out of CBZ Cup

• Monomotapa 9 points clear as Sundowns fall back

• CBZ unveils US$200,000 CBZ FA Cup

• 2008 Premier Soccer League Fixtures

By Nkanyiso Moyo and Torby Chimhashu
Posted top the web: 17/12/2008 16:02:45
IN POURING rain at Rufaro, Dynamos put Monomotapa on the skids as they restored their title ambitions with a commanding performance on their way to a crushing 3-0 victory.

Wonder Sithole opened the floodgates before Norman Maroto weighed in with a double either side of half time as the defending champions slashed Monomotapa’s lead at the top to just three points with two matches to play.

A win for Monomotapa would have sealed their first premiership title crown, but they came up against a relentless Dynamos stubbornly intent on putting a show for its fans and preserving its pride.

Monomotapa stay on 58 points with Dynamos on 55. The highest that Dynamos can achieve is 61 points if they pick maximum points from their two remaining matches while four points will do Monomotapa nicely as that would put them on an unassailable 62 points.

Having cleared the Monomotapa hurdle, Dynamos have a tricky fixture on the road to relegation-threatened Masvingo at Mucheke on Saturday, before hosting early-season pacesetters Kiglon on Monday, Unity Day.

Monomotapa need to pick up a win and a draw at home against Chapungu on Saturday and in their final match at Lengthens on Unity Day. Chapungu will be intent on avoiding defeat as they are in danger of sliding into the play-offs, if not straight relegation.

Seemingly overwhelmed by the occasion, Monomotapa players conspired to play kick and rush football and consequently presented Dynamos with every room to exploit.

There was no cohesion in midfield resulting in DeMbare enjoying much success in this department where Justice Majabvi, Mutshumayeli Moyo and Wonder Sithole shone.

Fittingly, Dynamos grabbed their first goal from a sweeping move involving the midfield trio 20 minutes into the contest.

Majabvi released Moyo from the Dynamos half who combined with Maroto before laying on a delicate pass to Sithole whose blistering shot was parried for a corner by Godfrey Mangove.

From the resultant corner, Monomotapa defenders failed to clear and Sithole's half volley nestled the nets.

Dynamos could have grabbed the second moments later but "old fox" Maroto shot weekly at Mangove who parried the ball to safety.

However, the DeMbare striker made amends just before halftime when he intercepted an attempted clearance inside the Monomatapa penalty box and rifled home to give the reigning champions much-needed confidence going into the breather.

Showing he still has the bite between his teeth, Maroto returned to haunt Monomatapa five minutes after the restart when he fired a fierce shot into the nets off an Edmore Sadomba howitzer strike which cannoned off the base of the upright.

At 3-0, DeMbare were in the driving seat and could have increased their tally by three more goals but each time they were either denied by Mangove or the upright.

Norman Mapeza’s men were outplayed, bullied and out-thought. But that’s the least of their problems. Mapeza will be surveying the psychological damage on his players after this morale-sapping defeat to their rampant rivals as the season draws to a close.

Monomotapa cannot afford to slip-up and suddenly, for the first time, they find themselves under severe pressure.

Having almost conceded the title to Monomotapa, David Mandigora couldn’t resist the urge to play mind games with his subdued rivals.

"We played well and showed our character. Anything can happen in the last two matches,” said Mandigora after the match.

CBZ Premier Soccer League Results:
Wednesday: Monomotapa 0-3 Dynamos

Thursday: Underhill v Motor Action – Mucheke Stadium

Friday: Shooting Stars v Sundowns – Rufaro

Saturday: Highlanders v Lancashire Steel – Barbourfields Stadium; Eastern Lions v Caps United – Sakubva Stadium; Gunners v Caps FC – Rimuka Stadium; Kiglon v Lengthens – Chibuku Stadium; Masvingo v Dynamos – Mucheke Stadium, Monomotapa v Chapungu – Dzivaresekwa Stadium

DYNAMOS' REMAINING FIXTURES:
Monomotapa (away), Masvingo (away), Kiglon (home)

MONOMOTAPA'S REMAINING FIXTURES:
Dynamos (home), Chapungu (home), Lengthens (away)

CBZ Premier Soccer League: Wednesday, December 17, 2008

TEAM		Played	Won	Drew	Lost	G/F	G/A	Points
1	Monomotapa	28	18	4	6	41	28	58

2	Dynamos	28	15	10	3	37	21	55
3	Njube Sundowns	28	14	3	11	39	32	45
4	Highlanders	28	9	15	4	33	18	42
5	Lengthens	28	11	7	10	37	39	40
6	Shooting Stars	28	10	8	10	31	26	38
7*	Motor Action	27	11	4	12	32	34	37
8	Kiglon	28	8	12	8	27	29	36
9	Underhill	28	8	11	9	35	41	35
10	Gunners	28	8	10	10	37	39	34
11	Chapungu	27	9	6	12	31	30	33
12	CAPS United	28	7	12	9	31	30	33
13	Lancashire Steel	28	9	6	13	34	45	33

14	Masvingo United	28	7	9	12	31	45	30
15*	Eastern Lions	27	6	11	10	19	27	29
16	R - CAPS FC	28	4	10	14	25	36	22
* Match result awaiting league arbitration. Likely to be awarded to Lions on 3-2 scoreline