WELL DONE SON: David Shoko runs to shake David Mandigora's hand after scoring the winner against Zamalek on Sunday • Dynamos storm into Champions League semis • Marufu double sinks ASEC, throws Dynamos lifeline • Do-or-die for Dynamos in Abidjan • Desperate Dynamos cling to slim hope • Last gasp goal denies Dynamos point in Cairo • Dynamos fall to Zamalek, stay second • Giant-killing Dynamos claim Asec scalp • Dynamos beat African champions • Dynamos survive Mozambique scare • Dynamos take commanding lead over Sol

By Nkanyiso Moyo
Posted to the web 22/09/2008 20:51:38
WHEN the African Champions League draw was made, and Dynamos pulled defending champions Etoile du Sahel, five-time champions Zamalek and Al-Ahly and 1998 champions ASEC Mimosas out of the hat, even the Zimbabwean champions’ die hard supporters knew it: Only a miracle would see them through to the semi-finals.

On Sunday, having done the hard part of reclaiming their destiny with a battling 2-1 win over their closest challengers ASEC Mimosas in Abidjan in the penultimate Group A match, Dynamos prepared to slay one of the Goliaths of African football, Zamalek.

After their 1-0 victory over Etoile du Sahel in the second round and the equally stunning group-stage victories over ASEC Mimosas (2-1 Harare;1-2 Abidjan), some of Dynamos’ fans must have quietly wondered whether their little ‘David’ had slain too many Goliaths for the miracle to remain credible.

As it happened, their shock 1-0 victory over the Egyptian club at Rufaro Stadium required not just one but two Davids to pull off – coach David Mandigora and goal scorer David Shoko.

A masterstroke substitution by one David bore fruit when the other David struck a brilliant free kick from just outside the penalty area into the net on 88 minutes to take the most popular Zimbabwe club through to only their second semi-final in history.

It was a textbook strike by the Dynamos striker, who came on just two minutes before scoring in place of star striker Edward Sadomba – a hero of the 2-1 home win over ASEC last month.

As ever at Dynamos, players threatened to boycott Sunday’s match in a row over bonuses. It is the sort of adversity that Dynamos have thrived on over the years; just as David faced what was considered impossible in taking on Philistine brute, Goliath.

Realising the full weight of their achievement, a few Dynamos players wiped off tears – led by skipper Murape Murape.

Dynamos can still go on and lift the Cup, but leading the club to the semi-finals 10 years after they were beaten by ASEC in the final will surely have etched David Mandigora’s name into Dynamos folklore.

“It was a tough match which could have gone either way. We created the chances, but you could see that their goalkeeper was good,” Mandigora said after the match. “We had to guard against complacency and play to win. Fortunately the goal came late and settled out nerves. It does not matter how it came, we got the three points and we are in the last four.”

Mandigora paid triubute to Shoko who arrived from Southern Region Division One side Shabanie Mine two seasons ago, but has been largely confined to the bench.
“That substitution was meant to keep the pressure on until the end of the game, hoping that we will get a break,” Mandigora said of his masterstroke decision.

Dynamos now face Cameroonian champions Coton Sport in the semi-finals.

“I have watched some of their games, but I can’t say much. We must just focus on making our team much better and work on converting some of the chances we
create,” Mandigora said when asked about their next opponents who topped Group B.

MTN CAF Champions League Champions League 2008

Semi-Final Fixtures:
1st Leg:

Enyimba v Al-Ahly (03-05/10/2008)

Dynamos v Coton Sport (03-05/10/2008)

2nd Leg:

Ahly Ahly v Enyimba (17-19/10/2008)

Coton Sport v Dynamos (17-19/10/2008)

GROUP A

	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	PTS
Al Ahly	6	3	3	0	9	6	12
Dynamos	6	3	0	3	6	6	9
Asec Mimosas	6	1	3	2	7	6	6
Zamalek	6	1	2	3	4	8	5

18-20/07/08: Al Ahly 2-1 Zamalek
18-20/07/08: Dynamos 2-1 Asec Mimosas

01-03/08/08: Zamalek 1-0 Dynamos
01-03/08/08: Asec Mimosas 0-0 Al Ahly

15-17/08/08: Al Ahly 2-1 Dynamos
15-17/08/08: Zamalek 0-0 Asec Mimosas

29-31/08/08: Asec Mimosas 3-0 Zamalek
29-31/08/08: Dynamos 0-1 Al Ahly

12-14/09/08: Zamalek 2-2 Al Ahly
12-14/09/08: Asec Mimosas 1-2 Dynamos

19-21/09/08: Al Ahly 2-2 Asec Mimosas
19-21/09/08: Dynamos 1-0 Zamalek

GROUP B

	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	PTS
Coton Sport	6	3	1	2	6	5	10
Enyimba	6	3	0	3	10	10	9
TP Mazembe	6	2	2	2	7	5	8
Al Hilal	6	1	3	2	7	10	6

18-20/07/08: Al Hilal 3-2 Enyimba
18-20/07/08: Coton Sport 1-0 TP Mazembe

01-03/08/08: Enyimba 2-0 Coton Sport
01-03/08/08: TP Mazembe 0-0 Al Hilal

15-17/08/08: Enyimba 2-0 TP Mazembe
15-17/08/08: Al Hilal 1-1 Coton Sport

29-31/08/08: Coton Sport 1-0 Al Hilal
29-31/08/08: TP Mazembe 3-0 Enyimba

12-14/09/08: Enyimba 4-1 Al Hilal
12-14/09/08: TP Mazembe 2-0 Coton Sport

19-21/09/08: Coton Sport 3-0 Enyimba
19-21/09/08: Al Hilal 2-2 TP Mazembe

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