Zimbabwe in trouble after draw with Kenya

Zimbabwe in trouble after draw with Kenya

DOWN: Kenya's Kevin Ochieng escapes a tackle by Zimbabwe's Onesimo Bhasera in the first leg in Nairobi on June 14, 2008

• Kenya go top after win over Zimbabwe

• Mushangazhike double sends Warriors through

• Nation warms up to Valinhos

• Draw sets Warriors as Group Three favourites

• Woeful Warriors draw with Namibia

• Malajila gives Zimbabwe victory in Botswana

• Matola own goal hands South Africa victory

• Highlanders refuse to release players for national team

• Ndlovu, Nyandoro out of South Africa clash

• Ndlovu gets Warriors recall

• Valinhos spells end of Ndlovu's international career

• Brazilian Valinhos is new Zimbabwe coach

Zimbabwe….0
Kenya……....0

ZIMBABWE produced a near-lifeless performance as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Kenya in a Group 2 World Cup/Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at Rufaro Stadium on Sunday.

Starting the match as favourites, the hosts took the game to their opponents with a couple of penetrative runs in the early quarter of the game but failed to convert the chances.

The implications of the Warriors’ failure to beat Kenya became immediately clear as Group 2 favourites Guinea posted a thumping 4-0 victory over Namibia in Conakry on the same day to go top.

Zimbabwe must now beat Namibia and Guinea on September 8 and October 19 respectively, and hope that other results go their way to stand a chance to progress to the next round of the qualification process.

Veteran striker Gilbert Mushangazhike, hero of the last home meeting with Namibia two weeks ago, turned villain as he fluffed at least three chances in the opening 16 minutes.

Austria-based Joseph Ngwenya and Clemence Matawu had some purposeful play but were not complemented by a lethargic team lacking a killer instinct.

Kenya were content to sit back and defend, breaking forward in sporadic raids. On one such break on 20 minutes, their first real attack, Dennis Oliech directed his shot wide.

There was setback for Zimbabwe when Ngwenya limped off with an ankle injury in the 23rd minute and had to be replaced by Honour Gombami.

A minute after Ngwenya’s exit, Zimbabwe got another fine chance to take the lead when Matawu sent a low cross into the box but Cephas Chimedza directed the ball over the bar.

Mushangazhike was again to disappoint fans packed inside the 25000-seater stadium when he was slow to a delivery by David Kutyauripo.

Zimbabwe maintained their threat. Left-back Onismo Bhasera ejected the supporters from their seats as his booming shot curled away from Noah Ayuko’s goal on final approach.

With every Zimbabwe miss, Kenya were gaining confidence. Playing with more expression in the second half, the Kenyans started seeing more of Energy Murambadoro’s goal with Oliceh at the centre of most of their forward movement.

The giant player was complemented by his skipper Robert Mambo who provided the grit from midfield, ensuring a busy second half for Warriors defenders James Matola and Zvenyika Makonese.

Zimbabwe were forced into a second substitution when Murambadoro left the field on 55 minutes with a neck injury. Valinhos threw in Highlanders shot stopper Washington Arubi.

Manchester City forward Benjani Mwaruwari, currently having something of a goal drought with the national team, sent another Zimbabwe chance begging on the hour when he failed to connect Mushangazhike’s perfect pass.

Mushangazhike, booed by the home crowd with every touch, was soon withdrawn, and his place taken by Kingstone Nkata. But Zimbabwe still could not break down the Kenyans.

Valinhos was disappointed with the draw, having lost the reverse fixture 2-0 away in Nairobi a week ago.

Teams
Zimbabwe: E. Murambadoro (W. Arubi 55th minute), D. Kutyauripo, O. Bhasera, Z. Makonese, J. Matola, E. Nyandoro, J. Ngwenya (H. Gombami 23rd minute), C. Matawu, C. Chimedza, G. Mushangazhike (K. Nkata 69th minute) B. Mwaruwari

Kenya: N. Ayuko, A. Kimani, J. Njoronge, G. Owino, A. Oyombe (O. Monday 52nd minute) R. Mambo, K. Ochieng (J. Shikokoti 86th minute), D. Oliech, F. Ouma (A. Wanga 79th minute)

2010 World Cup/African Cup of Nations Qualifiers:
Group Two Results:

Zimbabwe 0-0 Kenya
Guinea 4-0 Namibia

Zimbabwe’s Remaining Fixtures:

6-8 September-Namibia vs Zimbabwe

17-19 October Zimbabwe vs Guinea

South Africa qualify for the World Cup finals as hosts. The 12 group winners and the eight best runners-up will contest the next stage in the qualification process.

Group Two Log:

	Team	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pts
1	Guinea	4	2	1	1	6	3	7
2	Kenya	4	2	1	1	5	2	7
3	Zimbabwe	4	1	2	1	2	2	5
4	Namibia	4	1	0	3	3	9	3

JOIN THE DEBATE ON THIS ARTICLE ON THE NEWZIMBABWE.COM FORUMS
ozzie@newzimbabwe.com