Young Warriors massacre Botswana at Barbourfields

Zimbabwe Under-20 (1) 4 - 0 Botswana Under-20
The Zimbabwe Under-20 soccer team put one foot into the next round of the African Youth Championships when they dismissed Botswana Under-20 in a lively first leg of the first round qualifier at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday.

The Young Warriors, though wasteful, made light work of the Young Zebras and rode on home advantage to ensure that their task will be easier in the return leg in Gaborone, Botswana, in a fortnight.

Playing before a virtually empty stadium, the home side found their goals through double scorer Munyaradzi Chiwara, Edmore Tsoro and Knox Mutizwa, but could have grabbed more had the strike force been sharper in front of goal.

The Young Warriors opened the floodgates in the 37th minute through the boot of Chiwara who raced on to a through ball from impressive Highlanders star Mutizwa to chip over the advancing Kenalemang.

The goal seemed to be the exact tonic that the hosts needed as they started attacking the Young Zebras' area from all angles.

In the dying minutes of the first half Zimbabwe's Kudakwashe Mahachi forced Kenalemang to crucially smother his dangerous cross with Mutizwa lying in wait for the kill.

Zimbabwe started the second half the way they ended the first but this time upping the ante as they went for the kill.

It was the half in which the visitors threw virtually nothing to their opponents who took advantage as they laid siege in the Botswana half as it became obvious that an avalanche of goals was in the offing.

The visitors' defence was now taking turns to make schoolboy blunders, with the hosts failing to capitalise on numerous occasions.

The second goal for the Young Warriors came in the 51st minute through Tsoro, who was a constant thorn in the Botswana defence. Mutizwa showed his true class, especially as a winger when he evaded his marker on the right flank before sending in a pin-point cross which was headed in by Tsoro to send the small crowd into a frenzy.

With the Zimbabwe technical bench calling for more goals to cushion themselves from the hostile return leg, Elvis Moyo was brought in for Elton Dzirondiro.

Moyo was assigned to the left-back position, replacing Mahachi, who was pushed up front on the left wing with Tsoro switching to the right wing where Dzirondiro was playing.

That paid dividends as Mahachi and Tsoro took turns to trouble the visitors and it was not a surprise when Zimbabwe were awarded a penalty in the 65th minutes after Mutizwa was hacked down by Buyani Kgomotso inside the box and referee Chirinda Samuzi from Mozambique did not hesitate to point to the spot.

Up stepped Chiwara who coolly converted from the spot to complete his brace.

Then it was left for Mutizwa to add icing on the cake when he scored the fourth goal off a corner- kick taken by Mahachi.

The goal signalled the end of the match without the ball being taken to the centre-line.

Zimbabwe assistant coach George Jojo was in jubilant mood but warned that it was not over yet.

His Botswana counterpart, Odirile Mathlaka, conceded defeated but chose to put on a brave face, saying they would overturn the scoreline.

Teams
Zimbabwe Under 20: T Mateanga, W Katonganda, K Mahachi, V Mbara, K Moyo, E Tsoro (B Five 96 mins), K Mutizwa, E Dzirondiro (E Moyo 52 mins), F Madora (M Sibanda 82), N Masuku, M Chiwara

Botswana Under-20: N Kanelamang, M Kgaswane, B Kgomotso, E Molefi (M Maruti 56 mins),W Kaekwe, E Bakwane, U Mbaiwa, T Majenanga (L Mabuli 33 mins), M Gaolaolwe, O Baolini, K Segokgo(T Makodeti 78 mins)