Dynamos had the opportunity in front of them. With a lively crowd at Rufaro and a chance to climb to the top of the table, everything was set up in their favour — but they couldn’t capitalise.

A 1-1 draw against FC Platinum extended DeMbare’s unbeaten run, yet it felt like two points dropped in what is shaping into a tightly contested Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title race.

More concerning for coach Genesis Mangombe was the nature of the performance. For large periods, his side looked second best.

FC Platinum made the brighter start and took a deserved lead in the first half. Garikayi Dematsika found space inside the box and headed home from a corner delivered by Eric Manokore, exposing a Dynamos defence that struggled to organise itself.

Dynamos’ route back into the game came via the penalty spot. Early in the second half, Abel Gwatidzo converted from 12 yards after a soft foul decision handed the hosts an equaliser in a match they had not controlled.

Even after drawing level, Dynamos failed to assert dominance.

Mangombe was candid in his post-match assessment, admitting his side had not followed instructions, particularly in midfield where they allowed their opponents too much freedom. Tactical adjustments at halftime — including the introduction of Frank Agyemang and Mandlenkosi Mlilo — helped restore some balance, and Dynamos improved after the break.

Still, familiar defensive issues resurfaced. Once again, they were punished from a set piece, conceding at the near post despite anticipating the threat. Mangombe acknowledged the recurring weakness and stressed the need for improvement, especially with a break in fixtures offering time to regroup.

The absence of captain Shadreck Nyahwa was also evident. Beyond his role on the pitch, his leadership and communication were missed during key moments.

Despite the frustrations, Mangombe took some positives from his team’s response in salvaging a point from a difficult encounter.

For FC Platinum, it was a disciplined display that could easily have yielded more. Coach Joel Luphaphla praised his players’ effort and organisation, noting that their preparation showed. However, he pointed to the penalty concession as avoidable, suggesting that greater composure in such moments could have secured all three points.