HARARE - Dynamos turned in a super second half performance to sweep aside Botswana champions Mochudi Centre Chiefs 3-0 and put one foot into the first round of the African Champions League yesterday at the National Sports Stadium.
Washington Pakamisa scored a brace while Masimba Mambare added a third as the Glamour Boys took a comfortable lead ahead of the second leg of the preliminary in Gaborone next weekend.
The Harare giants started brightly in a rain-affected match – which was stopped for over 20 minutes as heavy rains pounded the capital – and could have found the opener inside four minutes after Pakamisa’s square ball found Cliff Sekete unmarked inside the box.
Sekete’s resultant goal-bound effort was however deflected onto the upright by Mochudi defender Arnold Chaka.
The Glamour Boys were on the prowl 10 minutes later.
Pakamisa did well to out jump his marker and flick on Oscar Machapa’s cross only for Centre Chiefs goalkeeper Raphael Ntwhane to tip his effort over for a corner.
The pitch markings would then give into the heavy downpour, forcing referee Amibal Anthoni to stop play as grounds men and ball boys frantically tried to restore the markings with whitewash.
The match finally resumed after 23 minutes with Mochudi seemingly finding their feet and producing their first shot through Lemphanye, eight minutes into additional time.
The record Zimbabwean champions emerged from the breather a hungrier lot, hitting the upright through Machapa’s free kick in the first minute of the second stanza.
They were soon rewarded for their probing five minutes into the second half when Pakamisa beat Magosi keepr Ntwane with a low shot from outside the six-yard box.
They soon counted themselves lucky after Sekete, who seemed to have slipped under no challenge inside the box, was adjudged to have been fouled by Elvis Meleka.
Pakamisa coolly stepped up to send Ntwane the wrong way.
Dynamos new man Masimba Mambare would then seal the victory for the Glamour Boys in his first game in DeMbare colours.
The ex-Highlanders star headed Pakamisa’s cross in the 73rd minute to make it 3-0 and give the Zimbabwe champions a cushion for the second leg next weekend in Gaborone.
The Glamour Boys could have added to their tally but wasted their chances with some wayward shooting from Patrick Khumbula.
Teams
Dynamos: George Chigova, Partson Jaure, Augustine Mbara, Sydney Linyama, Masimba Mambare (Patrick Khumbula, 81min), Oscar Machapa, Steven Alimenda, Ronald Chitiyo (Russell Madamombe 83min), Washington Pakamisa (Murape Murape, 85min), Cliff Sekete.
Mochudi: Raphael Ntwhane, Pontsho Moloi, Sekgabo Molebatsi, Arnold Chaka, Thabiso Khunwane, Kereeditse Maphane, Othusitse Pilane, Bonolo Fraizer, Lemponye Tshireletso, Elvis Meleka, Patrick Lenyeletse.