HARARE – Harare giants Dynamos failed to live up to the billing in their Chibuku Super Cup group 1 match against Herentals.
The match which ended a goalless draw was lifeless in the first half as both teams failed to string more than two passes and resorted to long balls and pump it forward football.
Herentals were the first to get a real chance in the 20th minute but 49-years-old Innocent Benza blew the effort.
The tempo of the game flowed from one side to the other with no meaningful chance created.
Second half saw Herentals increasing the intensity but missed a glut of chances.
Blessing Majarira missed a sitter in the 51st minute for a chance that would have found the back of the net on another day.
Chidhobha, the Dynamos winger created some life for his side in the 54th minute when he passed through four players with some foot artistry at play before being brought down but the match official ignored it.
Another chance came for Herentals in the 65th minute but Tinotenda Benza wasted the glorious opportunity.
Dynamos began to settle in the game and made eleven passes towards the goal of their opponents only to find a solid defence ready for duty.
The match ended with no goals.
“I think we started very slowly, look I thought in the first thirty minutes, Herentals were very much in control of the game. That’s were all the frustration was coming from, we were clearly not ourselves. I think it took us time to really get into the groove. But look, we expected this, like I said it is really going to be a bit of a slow start. Not just us but to all the teams.
“Yes, we didn’t get the result that we really wanted and our performance was not really up to scratch but a point is good. It’s a good start, of course we really wanted to start with a win but I will take one point. But clearly I thought Herentals were really in control. We failed to really deal with their game plan today. If you ask me they were just picking their three forwards.
“They were using long balls and we were really struggling to deal with those long balls. Of course, we were winning possession but then we ran out of ideas. We didn’t know what to do with that possession.
“We couldn’t find a killer pass and in the end, I can say that’s the reason why we were playing second fiddle. I thought Herentals wanted it more, we were not really hungry, we were not aggressive,” said Dynamos coach Tonderai Ndiraya.
“We were the underdogs but we enjoyed our game. Taking a point from Dynamos is good enough for us since we have been out of action for so long. But we pretty did well, looking at our application whereby defensively we were good and even when we were going forward in attack. I think we should have got a goal but we were just unlucky,” the Herentals gaffer Kumbirayi Mutiwekuziva said.
Results:
Highlanders 1-0 Bulawayo Chiefs
Ngezi Platinum Stars 3-1 Triangle United
Cranborne Bullets 2-1 Manica Diamonds
