Chiefs downed in Harare

Correspondent | Monday February 10, 2014 15:26

 

Chiefs were hard done by a water logged pitch at Harare’s National Sports Stadium and poor officiating that saw them conceding a controversial penalty deep into second half.  Play had to be stopped for 25 minutes in the first half after the match officials complained about the fading white lines.  Mozambiquean referee Anibal Antonio Armando stopped play 15 minutes into the match after rains washed away the lines. The lines had to be redrawn. Chiefs managed to hold their own against their more experienced opponents only to lose the plot in the last 45 minutes of the game. The Zimbabwean champions scored through Washington Pakamisa who rounded off his brace with a controversial penalty in the second half. Former Zimbabwe national team captain scored the third goal with a header deep into second half. Chiefs appeared content sitting back and defending deeply as Dynamos were on the offensive from the first whistle.

There were more rains in the second half that complicated play as the pitch became waterlogged. Pakamisa finally breached the Chiefs defence and scored from a rebound from an opposition defender.  Dynamos were awarded a penalty 10 minutes late after Chiefs defender Kereeditse Maphane was adjudged to have brought down Cliff Sekete in the penalty box. Chiefs players protested, but to no avail although Sekete appeared to have fallen on his own. Pakamisa converted the spot kick and Dynamos appeared to be cruising from then on. Mambare rounded off the scores with a brilliant header after 79 minutes and killed off the match as a contest. Chiefs general manager Sebele Morakanyane said his side was treated unfairly with the penalty decision.

“It’s the worst decision I have ever seen in my football career. We contained Dynamos throughout,” he said. “It was such a bad decision, but there is nothing we can do about it, but God is watching.”

Dynamos coach, Kalisto Pasuwa conceded that Chiefs defended well. “They are a very strong side. We struggled to break them down. Their fitness levels are ahead of us,” he said. “We now have to motivate the guys and try to go there and win.”