Gunners 1-2 Dynamos
DEFENDING champions Dynamos recovered from their shock defeat to Premier League newcomers Harare City in midweek to edge a battling Gunners 2-1 at Lafarge on Sunday.
Rodreck Mutuma and defender Guthrie Zhokinyu both scored to ease pressure on Callisto Pasuwa who needed a vote of confidence from his chairman after the midweek setback.
Gunners, who are now under the guidance of Thanks Tengwe after George Madira joined Harare City as assistant coach, got a consolation goal from Moses Muchenje.
Mutuma thrust Dynamos in the lead just after the half hour mark when he finished off a sleek move started by Tichaona Mabvura.
Three minutes after the half time break, William Manondo was hacked from behind by Partson Jaure. Muchenje stepped up and beat Washington Arubi to level the scores.
The match was headed for a draw until Dynamos won a free kick on the edge of the penalty box right at the death which Zhokinyi converted.
Gunners’ Pardon Chinungwa saw red after picking up his second booking of the game for the foul which led to the free-kick.
Dynamos should have also been a man short when striker Takesure Chinyama, already on a yellow card for dissent, deliberately handled the ball.
The biggest beneficiaries from Highlanders’ minor stumble on Saturday when they drew 0-0 with Motor Action were Shabanie Mine and FC Platinum who both won to close the gap to the leaders to three points.
Shabanie edged Monomotapa 2-1 at Maglas, and FC Platinum left it late at Gwanzura as they also won by the same score away to Blue Rangers with a last gasp winner from Mitchelle Katsvairo.
Mario Mabhacho gave Blue Rangers the lead in the 25th minute after catching the Platinum back four flat-footed and ran through to slice past the advancing goalkeeper Francis Tizayi.
Daniel Vheremu got at the end of Ali Sadiki free kick in the 68th minute to level the scores before substitute Katsvairo sealed the win just before the final whistle after pouncing on a rebound.
Joel Ngodzo’s stinging shot from the edge of the box was parried back into play by Rangers’ Moses Nelson, allowing Katsvairo to stab home the winner.
Zephaniah Ngodzo hooked a goal-bound shot off the line in injury time for a controversial finish. Rangers players surrounded referee Nkanyiso Zulu claiming the ball had crossed the line, but their appeals were waved away.
At the final whistle, Platinum coach Rahman Gumbo admitted his team rode their luck against Rangers.
“We didn’t play well. Rangers had the better chances, but we got our two and used them.”
Gumbo was happy to welcome striker, Donald Ngoma, who made his first appearance of the season after recovering from an ankle fracture picked up in February.
At Maglas, the country’s leading scorer Nelson Mazivisa grabbed his 10th league goal in 11 matches as he gave Shabanie Mine a deserved lead just after the break before Ray Sibanda made it 2-0 in the 70th minute.
Monomotapa reduced the arrears three minutes from time through Morgan Munkombwe.
Hardbody beat Quelaton 1-0 at Luveve Stadium in Bulawayo with veteran striker Malvern Nyakabangwe scoring the winner.
No-nonsense ... Gunners' Tendai Chinungo ploughs through Rodreck Mutuma to clear
Castle Lager PSL Results
Sunday
Gunners 1-2 Dynamos; CAPS United 1-1 Buffaloes; Shabanie Mine 2-1 Monomotapa; Blue Rangers 1-2 FC Platinum; Quelaton 0-1 Hardbody
Saturday
Black Mambas 0-1 Harare City; Motor Action 0-0 Highlanders; Chicken Inn 2-1 Hwange