Sports / Soccer
Warriors keep their AFCON hopes alive
05 Sep 2011 at 03:51hrs | Views
Zimbabwe (2) 3 - 0 Liberia
THE WARRIORS kept their 2012 African Cup of Nations flame alight with a hearty performance in a match they could have won by at least half-a-dozen goals at the National Sports Stadium yesterday.
Needing nothing short of a win to remain in the hunt for a place at the 2012 Nations Cup finals, the Warriors did just that with goals from Willard Katsande and Ovidy Karuru, who both scored in the first half, and Khama Billiat.
With a little bit of accuracy and better finishing upfront, Edward Sadomba, Tafadzwa Rusike and Karuru could have increased the goal harvest in the second half.
However, Zimbabwe face a decisive final qualifying match against closest rivals Cape Verde next month in Praia, while Mali visit Liberia.
Mali are top of the section with nine points after they defeated Cape Verde Islanders 3-0 Saturday, but Zimbabwe stayed close on eight points courtesy of their win over the Lone Star of Liberia yesterday.
Early front runners Cape Verde are down in third with seven points, while Liberia languish at the bottom of the standings after amassing four points from five matches.
Last year, Liberia held Zimbabwe to a 1-1 draw in Monrovia.
In yesterday's match, Katsande gave Zimbabwe the lead when he connected the ball home from inside the box as he got to the end of a square pass from Karuru in the 15th minute.
In creating the goal, Karuru raced down the left flank, suddenly changed course to beat his marker Teah Dennis and then fed Katsande to put the finishing touch. The goal warmed up the estimated 40 000 crowd as victory for the Warriors was almost certain even before the end of the match.
Zimbabwe had a scare in the 35th minute when hard-running winger Quincy Antipas was injured but his replacement Rusike did make his presence felt.
It was Rusike who whipped in the corner in the 44th minute that Karuru headed past Liberian goalkeeper Nathaniel Sherman for Zimbabwe's second goal.
Billiat then sealed the scoring for the Warriors when he connected a pass from Karuru on the right in the 84th minute.
Zimbabwe now need an outright victory over the Blue Sharks of Cape Verde next month and pray that Liberia either hold or beat Mali in the other game.
As it stands, Mali have the destiny of qualification for Equatorial Guinea/Gabon finals in their hands but it's still an open race as Zimbabwe still have a realistic chance of pulling through.
Zimbabwe could still gatecrash the party as one of the two-best placed runners-up from the qualifying groups.
Liberia coach Roberto Landi yesterday admitted the defeat at the hands of the Warriors had ended their hopes of playing at the 2012 Nations Cup finals but said Mali will have to fight for three points in Monrovia as Zimbabwe battle in Praia.
While it was the end of the road for the Lone Stars, Warriors coach Norman Mapeza said he is now hoping to get a win in Cape Verde.
Mapeza said he is not worried that, on paper, Mali have a far better chance of progressing to the finals.
A battle-hardened Warrior during his playing days, Mapeza even refused to get carried away with the comfortable win over Liberia yesterday.
Yesterday's match started off slowly but Zimbabwe were the first off the blocks with Katsande forcing a save from Sherman after Vusa Nyoni had delivered a free-kick in the box in the 6th minute.
Karuru kept the Mali defence on the back-foot with strong runs on the left flank while Antipas operated on the right.
Antipas could have increased the lead in the 17th minute when he received a high ball from Nyoni but headed weakly at the goalkeeper while Karuru, who showed some creativity in midfield, could have done better than directing his effort straight into Sherman's hands in the 25th minute.
A defence-splitting pass from Billiat found Sadomba failing to do justice to it in the 27th minute with Warriors' goalkeeper Tapuwa Kapini being clownish in the 36th minute to give Liberia corner.
Liberia played better in the second half with Ansu Toure, who was introduced for Isaac Pupo, causing anxious moments for the Zimbabwe defence although Daniel Veremu at least stood resolute.
Dreadlocked Oliseah Sekou also had three shots on target that Kapini did well to thwart while Mapemba cleared an effort off the line.
Teams
Zimbabwe
T. Kapini, G. Mapemba, V. Nyoni, D. Veremu, M. Mwanjali (A. Gutu 80th minute), T. Nengomasha (L. Zvasiya 64th minute), W. Katsande, E. Sadomba, K. Billiat, Q. Antipas (T. Rusike 35th minute), O. Karuru
Liberia
N. Sherman, S. Grimes, T. Dennis, S. Wessah, G. Gegro, A, Keita, I. Pupo (A. Toure 46th min), A. Laffour (P. Wleh 61st minute), O. Sekou, D. Williams, D. Johnson (S. Thompson 87th minute).
THE WARRIORS kept their 2012 African Cup of Nations flame alight with a hearty performance in a match they could have won by at least half-a-dozen goals at the National Sports Stadium yesterday.
Needing nothing short of a win to remain in the hunt for a place at the 2012 Nations Cup finals, the Warriors did just that with goals from Willard Katsande and Ovidy Karuru, who both scored in the first half, and Khama Billiat.
With a little bit of accuracy and better finishing upfront, Edward Sadomba, Tafadzwa Rusike and Karuru could have increased the goal harvest in the second half.
However, Zimbabwe face a decisive final qualifying match against closest rivals Cape Verde next month in Praia, while Mali visit Liberia.
Mali are top of the section with nine points after they defeated Cape Verde Islanders 3-0 Saturday, but Zimbabwe stayed close on eight points courtesy of their win over the Lone Star of Liberia yesterday.
Early front runners Cape Verde are down in third with seven points, while Liberia languish at the bottom of the standings after amassing four points from five matches.
Last year, Liberia held Zimbabwe to a 1-1 draw in Monrovia.
In yesterday's match, Katsande gave Zimbabwe the lead when he connected the ball home from inside the box as he got to the end of a square pass from Karuru in the 15th minute.
In creating the goal, Karuru raced down the left flank, suddenly changed course to beat his marker Teah Dennis and then fed Katsande to put the finishing touch. The goal warmed up the estimated 40 000 crowd as victory for the Warriors was almost certain even before the end of the match.
Zimbabwe had a scare in the 35th minute when hard-running winger Quincy Antipas was injured but his replacement Rusike did make his presence felt.
It was Rusike who whipped in the corner in the 44th minute that Karuru headed past Liberian goalkeeper Nathaniel Sherman for Zimbabwe's second goal.
Billiat then sealed the scoring for the Warriors when he connected a pass from Karuru on the right in the 84th minute.
Zimbabwe now need an outright victory over the Blue Sharks of Cape Verde next month and pray that Liberia either hold or beat Mali in the other game.
Zimbabwe could still gatecrash the party as one of the two-best placed runners-up from the qualifying groups.
Liberia coach Roberto Landi yesterday admitted the defeat at the hands of the Warriors had ended their hopes of playing at the 2012 Nations Cup finals but said Mali will have to fight for three points in Monrovia as Zimbabwe battle in Praia.
While it was the end of the road for the Lone Stars, Warriors coach Norman Mapeza said he is now hoping to get a win in Cape Verde.
Mapeza said he is not worried that, on paper, Mali have a far better chance of progressing to the finals.
A battle-hardened Warrior during his playing days, Mapeza even refused to get carried away with the comfortable win over Liberia yesterday.
Yesterday's match started off slowly but Zimbabwe were the first off the blocks with Katsande forcing a save from Sherman after Vusa Nyoni had delivered a free-kick in the box in the 6th minute.
Karuru kept the Mali defence on the back-foot with strong runs on the left flank while Antipas operated on the right.
Antipas could have increased the lead in the 17th minute when he received a high ball from Nyoni but headed weakly at the goalkeeper while Karuru, who showed some creativity in midfield, could have done better than directing his effort straight into Sherman's hands in the 25th minute.
A defence-splitting pass from Billiat found Sadomba failing to do justice to it in the 27th minute with Warriors' goalkeeper Tapuwa Kapini being clownish in the 36th minute to give Liberia corner.
Liberia played better in the second half with Ansu Toure, who was introduced for Isaac Pupo, causing anxious moments for the Zimbabwe defence although Daniel Veremu at least stood resolute.
Dreadlocked Oliseah Sekou also had three shots on target that Kapini did well to thwart while Mapemba cleared an effort off the line.
Teams
Zimbabwe
T. Kapini, G. Mapemba, V. Nyoni, D. Veremu, M. Mwanjali (A. Gutu 80th minute), T. Nengomasha (L. Zvasiya 64th minute), W. Katsande, E. Sadomba, K. Billiat, Q. Antipas (T. Rusike 35th minute), O. Karuru
Liberia
N. Sherman, S. Grimes, T. Dennis, S. Wessah, G. Gegro, A, Keita, I. Pupo (A. Toure 46th min), A. Laffour (P. Wleh 61st minute), O. Sekou, D. Williams, D. Johnson (S. Thompson 87th minute).
Source - National Sports Stadium
