Online Reporter
Langton Nyakwenda in FRANCISTOWN, Botswana
ONE would have to go back 14 years, to recall the last time that Zimbabwe got off to a blistering start in an international football match and scored three first half goals.
That was on September 9, 2012 when the Warriors, then under the guidance of the late Rahman Gumbo, thrashed Angola 3-1 in a 2013 Africa Cup of Nations penultimate qualifier at Rufaro. Yesterday, at the Obedi Itani Chilume, in Francistown, Zimbabwe matched that record, courtesy of two first half goals by man of the moment Mongameli “Smaller” Tshuma and livewire winger Bill Antonio.
The Warriors’ third was an own goal by a Zebras defender off a McCauley Bonnie effort.
In last night’s encounter, the Warriors’ comprehensive win secured them a date with perennial rivals Zambia on Tuesday’s Mukuru Four Nations tournament final.
Chipolopolo needed to ride on their luck in a long stretching penalty shootout in which they edged Kalisto Pasuwa’s Malawi 9-8 after a goalless draw in regulation time.
But there was no doubting that the star of the show for the Warriors last night was Belgium-based Antonio.
The former Dynamos winger was involved in all of Zimbabwe’s three goals and was undoubtedly the man of the match.
Antonio spotted Tshuma inside the box early on, before he forced an own goal by a defender.
He then scored after he got to the end of a pass by Bonne in stoppage time of the first stanza.
