CHICKEN INN END DYNAMOS UNBEATEN RUN WITH BARBOURFIELDS VICTORY
Hope
Chicken Inn FC produced a disciplined and determined performance to hand Dynamos their first defeat of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season, securing a 2-1 victory at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday afternoon, while also continuing their strong recent record against the Harare giants.
The Gamecocks were the last team to beat Dynamos in the league back in July last year, and have now done it again this season, becoming the first side to defeat them in the current campaign.
The result came as a strong response from Chicken Inn, who had gone into the fixture under pressure following back-to-back defeats, while Dynamos arrived unbeaten and among the early pace-setters in the league race.
The match started at a fast tempo with both sides showing attacking intent, but Chicken Inn struck first in the 12th minute when Binwell Katinji finished off a well-worked move involving Innocent Massiwa to give the hosts an early lead.
Dynamos responded by increasing pressure and gradually growing into the contest, eventually finding an equaliser in the 34th minute after a defensive lapse allowed them back into the game.
However, Chicken Inn restored their advantage before half-time, with Katinji completing his brace to make it 2-1 going into the break, a lead they defended strongly in the second half.
After the restart, Dynamos enjoyed long spells of possession and pushed forward in search of an equaliser, but they were repeatedly denied by goalkeeper Mvula, who produced key interventions despite carrying a knock.
Chicken Inn also created chances on the break, with Innocent Massiwa remaining a constant threat, but missed opportunities kept the contest alive deep into the second half.
As the game wore on, Dynamos piled on pressure and spent extended periods in the attacking half, but Chicken Inn remained compact and organised, managing the closing stages effectively to secure all three points.
After the match, Chicken Inn head coach Tonderayi Ndiraya admitted the encounter was extremely difficult, pointing to the pressure of recent results and the strength of the opposition.
He said the team had gone into the match under strain after consecutive defeats and facing an unbeaten Dynamos side made preparation and execution more challenging. He added that the players were highly motivated, but the situation required them to balance caution with attacking ambition.
“It was a very difficult match coming from the background that we had lost the previous two matches, so it really put a lot of pressure on us.
We were playing Dynamos today who had not lost before, so it was really difficult for us and difficult to plan to get maximum points. At the same time, we wanted to put a stop to the losing streak that was on us, so it was difficult to go into this game with a clear plan. We had to mix playing not to lose with also playing for maximum points.
Our players were really motivated in a big way, so it was also difficult to manage and control them.”
The victory lifted Chicken Inn to eighth position on the PSL table with 15 points, while Dynamos remain in the top-four race despite suffering their first defeat of the season.
Binwell Katinji’s brace proved decisive in a tightly contested encounter that was ultimately decided by fine margins, as Chicken Inn held firm under sustained pressure to secure a memorable result at Barbourfields Stadium.
