admin
(Aggregate scores 2-2. Zimbabwe qualify on the away goal’s rule)
CHIEF striker Knowledge Musona shook off a niggling ankle injury to fire home a priceless first half winner as gritty Zimbabwe overcame Burundi at the National Sports Stadium to advance to the final 2013 African Cup of Nations qualifying round yesterday.
The Warriors, playing with 10 men for long periods following the 29th minute expulsion of midfielder Willard Katsande showed character as they repelled the swallows pressure especially in the last 15 minutes in which they were on the back foot.
Trailing 2-1 from the first leg in Bujumbura in February, the Warriors knew they needed to be solid at the back and also find their range after firing blanks in their last two assignments.
Their poor start to the 2014 Word Cup campaign meant they could not attract as big a crowd as they would have wanted at the National Sports Stadium.
But more importantly for the Warriors was that they needed to remember how to score.
And the man they had to turn to provide the cutting edge, Musona did not disappoint when he struck a beauty that sent them through, albeit on the away goal’s rule.
Musona also scored in the 2-1 first leg defeat in Burundi.
The Warriors found themselves a man down in the 29th minute when holding midfielder Willard Katsande was shown a red card for head-butting Burundi defender Emeri Nibumana in an off the ball incident inside the box.
Referee Eric Castane Otoyo from Gabon flashed a straight red for the Kaizer Chiefs midfielder, who had been playing below his expected potential.
But Musona calmed the nerves of the Warriors and their fans in the 36th minute when he drilled home from the box after connecting in a pass from Khama Billiat.
Under-pressure coach Rahman Gumbo made some changes to a side that had misfired in the World cup qualifiers and finally dropped clubless Terrence Mandaza from the final 18.
The Warriors coach eager to register his first win since his return to head the senior team’s dressing room after an eight year absence handed exciting Hwange forward Rodwell Chinyengetere his debut and relegated big Dynamos striker Takesure Chinyama to the bench.
Gumbo was a hugely relieved man after the match and his troops rushed to mob him after Musona’s goal, probably sympathising with the FC Platinum gaffer and what he has gone through in the last three weeks.
With more precision, the Warriors could have scored more goals but as has been the case lately, they wasted the chances.
Zimbabwe nearly took the lead in the fifth minute when Vusa Nyoni who was outstanding in midfield, took a powerful free-kick which Swallows goalkeeper Janvier Ndikumana found too hot to handle the first time and had to re-collect the spill.
Midfielder Tinashe Nengomasha also tried to beat Ndikumana with a long-range effort a minute later while Musona sent his effort off the target as the Warriors did
much of the early asking.
Burundi threatened to spoil the day for the Warriors when their stand-in captain Saidi Ntibazonkiza made a fine run on the left channel where he worked his way past
Oscar Machapa before curling a dangerous cross into the box in the 12th minute.
Ntibazonkiza, who plays for Polish side Cracovia, exhibited great talent with his close ball control and dribbling skills as he kept the Zimbabwe defence busy during the match.
There was hunger for a goal from the Warriors in the must-win match as Billiat subtracted his marker on the right wing before sending in a pass for Chinyengetere.
Chinyengetere rushed forward but Ndikumana also came off his line to narrow the angle and the two players collided with the goalkeeper coming worse off and had to receive medical attention.
The Hwange skipper was lucky to escape without a yellow card after he was involved in some shoving with Nibumana who seemed to have been picking up fights with his rivals.
Warriors goalkeeper Tapuwa Kapini was then forced to make a save after Selemani Ndikumana in the 21st minute before Katsande’s moment of madness threatened to demoralise the team.
After Zimbabwe were a man down, Nengomasha dropped back while the forwards Musona and Chinyengetere were also forced to often come deep to receive the ball.
The Warriors continued fighting for a win with Billiat unleashing a powerful free-kick just outside box but the ball sailed away from target.
Gabonese referee Otoyo became the fans’ enemy number one when he denied Zimbabwe a penalty after Chinyengetere had gone down in the box following a challenge from a Burundi player.
The Hwange skipper had done well to beat his marker despite the challenge but then lost his footing following the contact and could not cut the ball across for a lurking Musona.
The fans went into an uproar while coach Gumbo had to be restrained by fourth official Roponat Mbourou as he protested against the decision to deny Zimbabwe a penalty.
But Zimbabwe’s disappointment was short-lived as Musona then scored the goal that earned the Warriors a slot in the next round when Musona fired home after a fine exchange of passes in the box.
Machapa could have extended the lead before the half-time whistle but he blasted straight at goalkeeper Ndikumana from the box.
Burundi continued to search for the crucial goal to save the match when Faty Papy came from the blind side to head the ball but Kapini was on guard to pluck the ball to safety.
Zimbabwe had another opportunity to increase the lead after they got a free-kick which Billiat whipped into the box from the right but Musona opted to place a weak header instead of shooting.
Gumbo then pulled out Billiat for Takesure Chinyama and the Dynamos forward could have scored with his first touch of the ball after he jumped high to head a free-kick from Machapa.
Influential captain Kapini pulled out a stunning serve when he went airborne to tip over the bar a brilliant strike from Papy.
Substitute Denver Mukamba rbpught in a new dimension to the Warriors game when he mesmerised Gilbert Kaze before taking a low shot on the right.
On the other end of the field the Zimbabwe defence of centre backs Esrom Nyandoro, Carrington Nyadombo and leftback Onismor Bhasera did well to thwart everything Burundi threw at them.
At the end of the match, the fans who rained missiles on the pitch after the defeat to Guinea, yesterday joined the players in doing the Zora Butter dance routine as they celebrated the victory.
Burundi’s Egyptian coach Lofty Naseem accepted the result and said his team would move on despite the set back.
“In football there a three results to be expected and these are a draw, a defeat or a win.
“My team is now out of the African Nations Cup but that will not be a problem for us.
“We have to move forward,” said Naseem.
Gumbo was naturally elated with the win which also came as a huge relief for the nation.
The Warriors coach also believed that the referee made life difficult for his team through some of his decisions.
“I did not see what Willard did to earn the red card,” said Gumbo.
Gumbo also praised his defence for being outstanding and was also happy that his team had managed to score.
“I am happy that Musona is playing his part by getting the goals.
“The defence is also doing well,” said Gumbo.
After spending three weeks in camp with the Warriors, Gumbo said its now time to go rest a bit from the national team commitments.
“There are no matches coming soon and I think its time for me to rest.
“I have always said that this team could go far and we have been creating chances in our previous matches but we failed to convert,” he said.
Gumbo also admitted that there was pressure on him to win the encounter.
“There was pressure but I have been used to it,” he said.
Gumbo felt Burundi gave them a good run.
Teams
Zimbabwe: T. Kapini, O. Machapa, E. Nyandoro, C. Nyadombo, O. Bhasera, T. Nengomasha, K. Billiat, (T. Chinyama 66th min), V. Nyoni, W. Katsande, R. Chinyengetere (D. Mukamba 68th min), K. Musona, (C. Kawinga 87th min)
Burundi: Javier Ndikumana, Saidi Ntibazonkiza, Gilbert Kaze, Hussein Mbanza, Karim Niligiyimana, Emeri Nibumana (Lamdit Mamugo 61st min), Hassan Hakilimana, Faty Papy, Cedric Amissi, Flobert Ndayisaba, Selemani Ndikumana
Online Reporter