Caps United . . . . . 0

Dynamos . . . . .(2) 3

Champions Dynamos sent their bitter rivals Caps United to their seventh successive defeat after mauling them in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at the National Sports Stadium yesterday.

Two first-half goals by Farai Mupasiri and defender Guthrie Zhokinyu and another in the second half by substitute Cliff Sekete left Caps in a soul-searching exercise after yet another morale-sapping derby defeat.

With Highlanders dropping points against Harare City on Saturday, the victory saw Dynamos closing in on their title challengers after leaping back into second position with 37 points from 17 matches.

The defeat saw Caps sliding closer to the relegation zone as they were left on fifth position from the bottom with a paltry 19 points.

Club supporters from the Bulawayo Chapter approached Caps president Twine Phiri and vice-president Farai Jere over the team’s poor performance at the final whistle to register their concerns.

Jere said: “They are like everyone else concerned with the team’s poor performance. They were asking us what is going wrong. We are also confused about this. We don’t know what is happening.”

The match, however, failed to live up to its billing with both teams taking a cautious approach.

Dynamos controlled the first half with midfielder Tawanda Muparati warming the hands of goalkeeper Muzondiwa Gonese in the second minute. Rodreck Mutuma also came close after 27 minutes, but miscued his effort after being set up by Murape Murape. Even so, Caps had a good chance on 33 minutes, but defender Tapiwa Kumbuyani’s shot was cleared out of danger by Partson Jaure.

Mupasiri, however, thrust Dynamos into the lead with a header from a pass by Murape after capitalising on poor communication between goalkeeper Gonese and defender Blessing Zabula, who collided in a bid to get the ball to safety.

Dynamos continued to launch wave after wave of attack and on 41 minutes Zhokinyu headed home the second following a corner kick from Murape.

Two minutes later, Mupasiri had a good chance, but directed his effort wide after bursting through the middle.

In the second half, Caps coach Taurai Mangwiro — who had employed a defensive 3-5-2 formation — resorted to the more offensive 4-4-2 formation and brought in a fresh pair of legs with the former Gunners pair of Leonard Fiyado and Hardlife Zvirekwi coming in for the ineffective Marvel Samaneka and the injured Nyasha Mukumbi.

The changes made an impact with Evans Gwekwerere directing his effort just wide on 51 minutes. In the 59th minute, Dynamos coach Kalisto Pasuwa also made changes, bringing in Timire Mamvura for injured Devon Chafa while Mangwiro also introduced Pride Tafirenyika for Gwekwerere, who limped off after picking up an injury.

Caps had a good chance two minutes later, but Rahman Kutsanzira had his cross tipped over by goalkeeper George Chigova.

It was, however, the introduction of Tichaona Mabvura for Murape in the 67th minute and Sekete for Denver Mukamba which saw Dynamos taking the game to their opponents. And Sekete scored the insurance goal on 78 minutes with a hard and low shot from a Mutuma cross after an exciting move by Mabvura - Newsday.