Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Augustine Hwata
24 March 2008
Harare — Dynamos...(2) 3 Costa do Sol..0 EDWARD SADOMBA scored a memorable hat-trick as Dynamos secured a healthy advantage over Mozambican champions Costa do Sol in this African Champions League first round, first leg soccer tie at Gwanzura yesterday.
The return leg will be played in Maputo in two weeks' time and DeMbare have an excellent chance of progressing to the second round where they are likely to meet Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia.
The Tunisians hammered AS Douanes of Senegal 5-0 in their first round, first leg tie at home on Saturday. But the day in Harare yesterday belonged to Sadomba, who left Gwanzura on cloud nine after his hat-trick buried the Mozambican champions. The Zimbabwe international, who has featured prominently as a winger for the CBZ Premiership champions, was yesterday playing as a makeshift striker and did not disappoint his coach, David Mandigora, with his three well-taken goals.
"It feels great to score three goals in an international match. "This was not any easy game, but at Dynamos we have learnt to play as a team," said an ecstatic Sadomba after the match. Sadomba opened the scoring in the eighth minute, finishing off a move by winger Benjamin Marere, who had done well to work his way past Costa do Sol midfielder Alvaito and defender Cufa before directing the ball towards goal.
But Sadomba made sure the ball crossed the line just as a Mozambican defender was closing in to clear. Sadomba made it a brace in the 37th minute when he coolly slotted the ball home from inside the box after getting to the end of an intelligent pass by right-back Lovemore Maphuya.
Dynamos launched an attack and Maphuya received the ball just outside the box and with the Mozambicans expecting the diminutive defender to pull the trigger, Maphuya laid for Sadomba who was unmarked inside the box.
Sadomba kept his cool and tucked a low shot past goalkeeper Sidonio Sansao Boa to put the hosts further ahead.
The former Harare United player killed the match as a contest when he connected a delivery from substitute Lazarus Muhoni to hit the back of the net in the 82nd minute. For his hat-trick, Sadomba was showered with wads of notes after the match and needed two small cardboard boxes to carry the cash. Last week, Dynamos fans threw cash, amounting to $800 million, to Leonard Tsipa after he was expelled from the tension-filled Harare derby against CAPS United but at least for yesterday, the supporters were not rewarding unbecoming behaviour.
Although Sadomba might have struck a hat-trick in yesterday's match, he will be the first to admit that he missed a lot of chances which came his way. Had he been more accurate in his finishing, the Zimbabwe international could have reaped more than half-a-dozen goals. In some of the numerous occasions, Sadomba fell prey to the offside trap employed by the Mozambicans.
However, in some instances, second assistant referee Jossy Sedrass from Seychelles appeared to unjustifiably raise his flag to signal offside each time a Dynamos blue shirt broke loose.
Dynamos coach Mandigora chose to start the match without any outright centre striker as he benched Sebastian Mutizirwa and Enasio Peresu -- his two options for the place.
Norman Maroto, the other out and out centre striker, watched the game from the terraces as Sadomba and Murape Murape played as the twin strikers.
Murape nearly put Dynamos into the lead in the third minute after Sadomba orchestrated a sweeping raid on the right side and then found Marere inside the box.
The former Mwana Africa player laid for Murape who took aim but skied his effort.
Costa do Sol made their first attack on goal in the 12th minute when midfielder Jossias was fouled by William Mapfumo and Nhabanga's free-kick went straight into the hands of goalkeeper Willard Manyatera.
Gifted with some good ball controlling skills, Costa do Sol striker Jo had the Dynamos defence troubled when he beat Sam Mutenheri and Mapfumo inside the box but his final effort curled away from Manyatera's area in the 15th minute.
Dynamos went on another raid in the 18th minute when Sadomba, who was finding it irresistible to go to the wing, spotted Marere inside the box and the latter unselfishly sold a dummy for Murape who shot over the bar.
Marere livened up the show at Gwanzura when he received a pass from Maphuya and charged towards goal before suddenly stopping in track.
In the process he withdrew defender Julinho and then fed Desmond Maringwa, who had made a well-timed off-the-ball run on the right, but the veteran midfielder hit the side-netting in the 25th minute.
From that moment, Dynamos exhibited some fine football, knitting together some neat passes as they attempted to carve open the Costa do Sol rearguard.
Alvaito was unlucky to see his effort grazing some paint off the upright with Manyatera a well beaten man for what could have been a goal for the visitors in the 29th minute.
Dynamos came into the second half less potent although they continued to have a powerful grip in midfield where Justice Majabvi won almost every challenge against the Mozambicans.
The former captain played some basic football although his efforts were not well supported by the left-sided midfielder Reuben Mhlanga, who was anonymous for much of the game.
Save for the four times he whacked in some high balls from the left, Mhlanga was completely on
Easter holiday and was eventually pulled out for David Shoko.
Murape could have registered his name on the scoresheet in the 67th minute when he ghosted in from the blind side only to direct the ball just a few millimetres off the target following cross by Marere.
Costa do Sol substitute Josimar fought hard and tried as much as possible to break the Dynamos defence in the second half but found Thomas Sweswe and Maphuya unyielding. After the match, Dynamos coach Mandigora praised his players, saying they were improving with each outing.
"This was not a bad game for us considering that we have won. "I have noted an improvement from the game we played against CAPS United last week. The passing was better and we also got more goals. "We created a lot of chances and should have scored many (more) goals," he said. Costa do Sol coach Jaoa Chissano blamed the early goal for unsettling his players.
"I had warned the players on what to expect when playing a team like Dynamos. "There were anxious when we got into the match and it was worse when we conceded that early goal.
"It was a fault that negatively affected us, but otherwise we gave our best," said Chissano.
TEAMS
Dynamos: W. Manyatera, L. Maphuya, S. Mutenheri, W. Mapfumo, T. Sweswe, J. Majabvi, D. Maringwa, E. Sadomba, M. Murape (L. Muhoni, 47th minute), R. Mhlanga (D. Shoko, 55th minute).
Costa do Sol: Sidonio, Julinho, Avelito, Jaoa Nhabaga, Cufa, Mambo, Jossias (Felix, 60th minute), Artur Paulo (Payo, 64th minute), Ruje, Alvaito (Josimar, 46th minute), Julia, Manuel.
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