admina draw in their fourth match played at TuS Gueldenstern on Saturday night against the students.
Zimbabwe’s chief striker Rudo Neshamba scored a goal in each half but the brace was not enough to earn them a fourth win in succession as the Mighty Warriors juggernaut, which had seen them winning their first three matches, was finally stopped. The Inline Academy forward who has scored five goals during this tour was on target in the 21st minute when she shrugged the challenge of a defender to connect a fine delivery from fellow striker Rufaro Machingura. Neshamba returned to haunt the students’ defence 10 minutes after the breather with a brilliant turn and shoot.
But the visitors had other ideas and punished the Zimbabwean defence, which was rather exposed in the second period.
Mighty Warriors goalkeeper Onai Chingawo failed to read the hosts’ move and came off her line at the stroke of an hour but Janver Mirella punished Zimbabwe’s captain.
Two minutes later the Germans breached the visitors defence again when Chingawo failed to read a cross and Dania Schuster headed the equliser into the nets.
After levelling the terms, the hosts controlled the match well with the visibly tired Mighty Warriors now losing possession needlessly. Star midfielder Marjoury Nyaumwe, always a marvel to watch with her runs, was chasing shadows while Tsitsi Mairosi was quiet on the wing starving the strikeforce. Neshamba had to search deep for balls and was the only player who was causing some sort of trouble to the visitors.
The fatigue of having played three matches in as many days caught up with the Mighty Warriors who on Friday night thrashed Oste/Oldendorf 10-0.
But playing against the national team comprising of students drawn from 180 universities and colleges in Germany the visitors found the match not a stroll in the park.
It was the first match which presented Zimbabwe with a litmus test ahead of the All-Africa Games in Mozambique and the technical side was left with homework to do.
Mighty Warriors assistant coach Yohane Chikaola said the match gave them a real assessment of their team.
“We met a good side. We managed to observe some of our grey areas which need to be polished. In defence the aerial balls were a bit problem to us.
“And also our strikers failed to convert their chances and they did not maintain their positions. Fatigue also affected us because we played Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Marjoury, Tsitsi and Nokuthula never rested in all these matches, Chikaola said.
Online Reporter