ZIMBABWE champions Dynamos set up a semi-final Africa Champions League match against Coton Sport of Cameroon after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Zamalek at Rufaro Sunday.
They have done the country proud, once again, after 10 years. The last time they reached the final was in 1998 when they fell 4-2 to Asec Mimosas when former captain Memory Mucherahowa was admitted to hospital before kick off after a head-butting incident.
It was only fitting now that Dynamos had to pluck six points from the Ivorians and coupled with yesterday’s win, Dynamos could not be denied the right to be in the last four.
A packed Rufaro went into delirium as dynamic Dynamos sensationally stormed into the African Champions League semi-final with a vintage show that ignited wild celebrations at Zimbabwe’s ceremonial home of football.
Midfielder David Shoko rose from the bench to power home an 89th minute priceless goal that sunk Egyptian giants Zamalek and ensured Dynamos with nine points on the board would finish second behind another crack Egyptian outfit Al Ahly in Group A.
Dynamos needed nothing short of a win and after their win the result between Al Ahly and Asec Mimosas did not matter anymore.
And by then it was clear to Asec and Al Ahly that whatever plans they had, if any, to fix the match would not work.
Dynamos ended the campaign with nine points from six matches after winning three and losing an equal number.
They beat Asec 2-1 in the opening match of the campaign, before losing 1-0 to Zamalek, 2-1 to Al Ahly in Cairo, 1-0 to Ahly at home before a stunning 2-1 win over Asec in a match that resurrected their campaign.
The semi-finals are scheduled for the weekend of 3-5 October and then two weeks later, Dynamos will be away for the second leg.
The winners advance to a two-leg final with the victors collecting US$1 million and an invitation to the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan.
