By Tapiwa Chawagarira
HARARE — FC Hunters produced one of the biggest shocks of the Chibuku Super Cup quarter-finals today when they knocked defending champions Dynamos out of the competition on penalties at Rufaro Stadium.
Hunters held Dynamos to a 1-1 draw in regulation time before winning 4-1 in the shootout, sending the three-time defending champions crashing out and leaving them without the Chibuku Super Cup trophy for the first time since 2022.
Frank Agyemang had appeared to put Dynamos on course for the semi-finals when he converted from the penalty spot in the 72nd minute.
But Hunters refused to surrender, with Ordain Osira restoring parity in the 86th minute to force the match into a shootout.
Dynamos’ nightmare then unfolded from the spot.
The Glamour Boys missed their first two penalties and converted only one of their three attempts, while Hunters were composed, scoring all four of their kicks to complete a famous cup upset.
The result brings Dynamos’ bid for a fourth consecutive Chibuku Super Cup title to an abrupt end and leaves the Harare giants with no realistic chance of adding the coveted cup to their trophy cabinet this season.
Hunters, meanwhile, have earned a place in the last four and will now face either CAPS United or the winner of Wednesday’s highly anticipated Scottland-Hardrock quarter-final.
At Barbourfields Stadium, Highlanders also survived a penalty shootout to book their semi-final berth after edging MWOS 3-2 from the spot following a 1-1 draw.
MWOS drew first blood through Arthur Banda in the 28th minute before Highlanders levelled through Royn Nyamono in the 61st minute.
The two sides could not be separated in regulation time, forcing another quarter-final to be decided by penalties.
Highlanders converted four of their five kicks, while MWOS managed three before missing their final two attempts, allowing Bosso to progress.
The Bulawayo giants will now join CAPS United and FC Hunters in the semi-finals, with the final place to be decided when Scottland face Hardrock on Wednesday.
CAPS United had already secured their place in the last four yesterday after surviving another penalty shootout against ZPC Kariba at Rufaro Stadium.
The two sides drew 1-1 after 90 minutes, with ZPC Kariba taking the lead through Malven Whata in the 74th minute before Lloyd Njaliwa headed CAPS United level five minutes later.
CAPS United then held their nerve from the penalty spot to win 4-2, with goalkeeper Victor James emerging as the hero after saving two penalties.
The victory took the Green Machine into the Chibuku Super Cup semi-finals for only the second time in the club’s history, following their previous appearance at that stage in 2023.
With three semi-finalists now confirmed, attention turns to Wednesday’s clash between league title contenders Scottland and Hardrock.
The winner will complete a semi-final line-up that already includes CAPS United, Highlanders and surprise package FC Hunters.
For Dynamos, however, today’s defeat represents another painful setback in a difficult campaign.
The Glamour Boys had entered the tournament as defending champions and one of the favourites, but their inability to convert from the spot ultimately proved costly.
In contrast, Hunters demonstrated the unpredictable nature of knockout football, holding their nerve when the pressure was greatest to eliminate one of Zimbabwe’s biggest clubs.
With the defending champions gone and three places already occupied, the race for the Chibuku Super Cup is now wide open.
