Sports / Soccer
Zimbabwe Young Warriors beat Zambian in All-Africa Games soccer qualifier
23 Jan 2011 at 23:20hrs | Views
Zimbabwe's Under-23 soccer team qualified for the first round of the All-Africa Games on Sunday following a one-all draw against neighbours Zambia in a preliminary round match at Harare's Rufaro Stadium.
The Young Warriors, carrying a 3-2 lead before Sunday's encounter qualified on a 4-3 goal aggregate and will now meet the winner between South Africa and Angola, who play next month.
Denver Mukamba scored the all-important goal in the 26th minute while Zambia's consolation came from substitute Lewis Macha in the 69th minute.
The Young Warriors controlled the midfield and it was a matter of time before they got the breakthrough with the combination of Mukamba and Archieford Gutu working out well.
Gutu won the ball deep in his own half, weaved past two defenders and squared the ball to the grateful Mukamba who blasted the ball past goalkeeper Allan Chibwe.
The visitors got their goal after defenders failed to deal with a cross in their box and in that goalmouth melee, Macha nicked the ball past goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda.
At that moment, the Young Warriors were looking tired but the introduction of powerful and speedy Matthew Rusike changed the whole complexion of the game.
The Jomo Cosmos striker used his big stature brilliantly, bullying the Zambians at will and could have scored in the 80th minute but reacted slowly to a Mukamba cross.
There was also enough time for skipper Qadr Amini, Simba Sithole and Mukamba to waste what looked like clear-cut chances as the team resorted to counter-attacks.
The Young Warriors will now face Botswana which drew one-all against Swaziland in another preliminary round qualifier held on Friday. Botswana progressed on a 2-1 goal aggregate.
Other teams competing in the Zone VI preliminary round qualifiers are Angola, Lesotho, Malawi and Namibia.
The Young Warriors, carrying a 3-2 lead before Sunday's encounter qualified on a 4-3 goal aggregate and will now meet the winner between South Africa and Angola, who play next month.
Denver Mukamba scored the all-important goal in the 26th minute while Zambia's consolation came from substitute Lewis Macha in the 69th minute.
The Young Warriors controlled the midfield and it was a matter of time before they got the breakthrough with the combination of Mukamba and Archieford Gutu working out well.
Gutu won the ball deep in his own half, weaved past two defenders and squared the ball to the grateful Mukamba who blasted the ball past goalkeeper Allan Chibwe.
At that moment, the Young Warriors were looking tired but the introduction of powerful and speedy Matthew Rusike changed the whole complexion of the game.
The Jomo Cosmos striker used his big stature brilliantly, bullying the Zambians at will and could have scored in the 80th minute but reacted slowly to a Mukamba cross.
There was also enough time for skipper Qadr Amini, Simba Sithole and Mukamba to waste what looked like clear-cut chances as the team resorted to counter-attacks.
The Young Warriors will now face Botswana which drew one-all against Swaziland in another preliminary round qualifier held on Friday. Botswana progressed on a 2-1 goal aggregate.
Other teams competing in the Zone VI preliminary round qualifiers are Angola, Lesotho, Malawi and Namibia.
Source - Byo24NEWS
