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Round-up: Drama as Dynamos match abandoned after goal posts collapse

Zimbabwean football fans cheer on their team Aaron Ufumeli/EPA

Zimbabwe Premier League giants Dynamos were denied a resounding win away to Chapungu on Sunday after their match was abandoned in dramatic style, with the goal posts at one end collapsing to force the teams off the pitch just before the hour mark.

The score-line stood at 4-0. Dynamos dazzled the hosts from the off and were three goals up by the break.

Double scorer Emmanuel Mandiranga put the former champions ahead after eight minutes and midfielder Denvar Mukamba soon added another for his third goal in four matches.

Mukamba then put Mandiranga through for Dembare's third just after the half-hour mark before Cameroonian Christian Epoupa netted his team's fourth five minutes after resumption.

What then followed was a bad advertisement for the Zimbabwean league as Chapungu goalkeeper Talent Shumba landed on one of the goal posts in an effort to clear a Tichaona Chipunza speculative shot and the whole frame came tumbling down.

Efforts to remedy the situation proved fruitless and the match was eventually abandoned.

Coach Lloyd Mutasa will however welcome the form and consistency of his side as the season approaches the half-way mark, especially after what would be their fifth consecutive win on Sunday.

Elsewhere, there was no sign of trouble this time around at Barbourfields as Highlanders set their recent woes aside to beat 10-men Hwange 3-0.

Midfielder Brian Banda scored Highlanders' first early in the first-half but Hwange regrouped to offer some resistance. It was only after the expulsion of Colleen Muleya for a second bookable offence that Bosso were able to overrun the visitors.

King Nadolo, one of a handful of youngsters restored to the starting line-up by coach Erol Akbay, put Highlanders further ahead late in the second-half. And there was still time for striker Prince Dube to net his sixth of the campaign as Highlanders eased into fourth-place on 24 points, three shy off the summit.

Black Rhinos displaced overnight leaders Chicken Inn at the top despite being held to a goalless draw at Shabanie Mine.

The army side, who are tied on 27 points with both Chicken Inn and Ngezi Platinum, are in pole position by virtue of a superior goal difference.

Bulawayo City compounded Yadah FC's woes after defeating the topflight newcomers 2-1 at Luveve.

A terrible blunder by Yadah goalkeeper Munyaradzi Zengeni allowed Clyde Rupiya to hand City an early lead but Yadah levelled matters just after the half hour mark through a Wellington Kamudyariwa penalty.

Munyaradzi Mangadze netted City's winner 10 minutes from time to condemn Yadah to their seventh defeat of the campaign as they slipped into the relegation places.

Harare City meanwhile where able to move out of the relegation zone after beating Triangle 2-0 for only their third win in 14 matches.

A Guthrie Zhokinyu own goal handed City the lead just before the break, and William Manondo made the game safe with a second midway through the second-half.

Full Results

Saturday
ZPC Kariba 0-0 FC Platinum, Tsholotsho 0-1 Chicken Inn

Sunday
Highlanders 3-0 Hwange, Harare City 2-0 Triangle, Shabanie 0-0 Black Rhinos, Ngezi Platinum 2-2 Bantu Rovers, Bulawayo City 2-1 Yadah, Chapungu 0-4 Dynamos (match abandoned in 58th minute)