Zambia dump Zimbabwe out of Cosafa Cup

Zambia dump Zimbabwe out of Cosafa Cup

• Mhlauri or Zifa, one has to go!

• Mabika: a comment too far

• Jay Jay Okocha cost Mabika his job

• Let's admit it, we have no talent!

• Easy walk in the park for Nigerians

• Okocha's Nigeria thump Zimbabwe

• Warriors get code of conduct

• Mhlauri appointed Warriors coach

• Gumbo, Msiska axed as Zifa ring changes

• Hands off Rahman Gumbo!

• Warriors hit by match fixing claims

• Nengomasha, Nyazika named in cheating scam

• EXPOSED: Footy cheating scandal

• Gumbo given 6 months

• Marimo quits Warriors

By Tawanda Tafirenyika

Zimbabwe…0
Zambia…….0
(Zambia won 5-4 after a penalty shootout)
OLD foe Zambia gave their country a pleasant birthday present when they edged Zimbabwe in an exhilarating Cosafa Castle Cup semi-final soccer tie at the National Sports Stadium yesterday.

Chipolopolo, as zambia is affectinately known, will now meet Angola in the two-legged final of the regional tournament next month.

Yesterday’s Cosafa Castle Cup match coincided with Zambia’s independence celebrations and their victory was met with joy by their vociferous fans who broke into song and dance after the final whistle with celebrations spilling into the city centre.

After a goalless draw, the match went into the dreaded penalty shootout. It was the first time that the two teams met in the same tournament since 1998 when Zambia lifted their second Cosafa Castle trophy, courtesy of a strike by Mamelodi Sundowns striker Rotson Kilambe.

CAPS United defender David Sengu, lost the match for the hosts when he failed to convert his penalty which would have kept Zimbabwe abreast.
Sengu, who looked scared of taking responsibility, watched in horror when his kick was parried away by impressive Zambian goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene to send Zambian fans into frenzy.

Chipololopolo converted all spot kicks through Zimbabwean-based midfielder Ian Bakala who was deservedly declared man of the match, Rotson Kilambe, Isaac Chansa, Clive Hachilensa and Noel Mwandila scored past goalkeeper Tapuwa Kapini.

Charles Yohanne, Esrom Nyandoro, Gift Lunga and Tapuwa Kapini converted for Zimbabwe.

The match was however a balanced affair especially in the first half. Zimbabwe had their best chance in the 24th minute after industrious midfielder Honour Gombami, was set up by Railstars striker Njabulo Ncube but his low ground shot was punched away by Mweene.

The visitors however refused to be intimidated as they made some dangerous moves especially in the middle of the park where Bakala justified why CAPS are dominating on the domestic scene with an inspired show that illuminated the giant stadium.

The Warriors, who like their opponents featured mostly home based players however took the game to their opponents with the striking pair of Leonard Tsipa and Ncube threatening to register their names on the score board.
In the 35th minute, Tsipa won possession in the danger zone but shot weakly at goal under the challenge from Zambian captain Misheck Lungu.

Four minutes later Gombami was guilty of selfishness as he shot straight into the hands of Mweene instead of passing the ball to an unmarked Yohane following a fine pass from captain Ronald Sibanda. Zambia could have gone to the breather leading, but Bakala’s pile driver after being spotted by Kilambe missed target by a few inches.

After the breather, it was another tale of missed chances after substitute Brian Badza’s shot in the 55th minute was parried away by Mweene in goals for Zambia.

In the 68th minute, Dadley Fichite almost put Zambia ahead but his shot was cleared by James Matola with Kapini seemingly a beaten man.
In the 75th minute, Sageby Sandaka won possession in the box but was denied by the impressive Zambian goalkeeper.

Zimbabwe, who won the Cosafa Castle Cup on two occasions, squandered numerous chances towards the end of the match, leaving the match to be decided on penalty shoot-outs.

Zambian coach Ben Bamfuchile praised his charges for being victorious.
“I am happy with the boys. Zimbabwe put us under a lot of pressure especially in the second half. We have given the people of Zambia a good birth day. We are celebrating Zambia’s 40th independence anniversary. It’s good for the government and the people of Zambia. It’s sad that the match had to end in a penalty shootout because at this stage, you have no control as the match can go either way ,”said Bamfuchile.

His counterpart Charles Mhlauri, said the team was still rebuilding and he would continue to address the weak areas.

“Obviously the fans will be disappointed because we have lost, but they should understand that we are still rebuilding. We wasted a number of chances. We could have wrapped up the match in regulation time,” said Mhlauri.

TEAMS:
Zimbabwe: T Kapini, D Sengu, J Matola, C Chimedza, (Glunga 89th min), H Dick, E Nyandoro, R Sibanda, C Yohane, H Gombami, L Tsipa (S Sandaka 69th min), N Ncube (B Badza52nd)

Zambia: K Mweene, M Lungu, B Mwanza, J Musonda, C Hachilensa, N Mumamba (N Mwandala 50thmin),I Bakala, I Chansa, K Phiri ( D Fichite),C Katongo, R Kilambe.
Daily Mirror
JOIN THE DEBATE ON THIS ARTICLE ON THE NEWZIMBABWE.COM FORUMS
ozzie@newzimbabwe.com