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Tadious Manyepo in BLANTYRE, Malawi
Herentals Queens . . . . . . . . (2)3
FC Ongos . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . (0)1
IT was a case of just what the doctor ordered as Herentals Queens posted a strong statement of intent on their CAF Women’s Champions League Cosafa qualifiers debut at Mpira stadium yesterday.
Zimbabwe Women Soccer League queens Herentals arrived in the Malawian commercial capital aware of the importance of boosting their confidence with a Match-day 1 win at the tourney.
Herentals Queens are in a tough Group A, that also includes top seeds Green Buffaloes of Zambia and South Africa’s University of Western Cape. But by the end of business in this midday kick-off, player-of-the-match Maudy Mafuruse and new girl Egness Tumbare, ensured the Zimbabweans were on their way to victory inside the opening 30 minutes.
Substitute Melody Chikore then made sure of the points in the second half.
Tournament football is all about points at the group stage, and with the win, Herentals Queens underscored their intentions to go all the way.
They showed they had the means, not least, with FC Ongos displaying an unassuming threat in the opening quarter of an hour.
Herentals Queens were intent on holding off their Namibian opponents and getting them off balance early in the game.
With Mafuruse, Polite Mabika, and Praynence Zvawanda keeping the Ongos defence busy, Herentals would always get off the mark first.
With 21 minutes on the clock, Mafuruse showed a clean pair of heels when out-sprinting her marker to a loose ball and she made no mistake rolling it past a desperate, drawn-out Ongos goalie Agnes Kauzulu.
If the Students were not authoritative in the general play at this point, the goal gave them a lift to start expressing themselves with more conviction.
Eight minutes later, they added the tally, the Namibians failing to clear their lines after a low corner kick by Alice Moyo and Tumbare sliding a low effort to double the advantage.
They could have added more in the opening phase but Mabika, Shyline Dambamuromo, and Moyo couldn’t quite get enough of the ball when getting chances to strike home.
Herentals Queens looked even more organised in the second stanza especially with their opponents making a glut of panic replacements.
With FC Ongos attempting to go forward several times, they left some holes at the back and Chikore would soon punish them.
Mabika lofted the ball from the right axis and Chikore, loitering at the back post was well-positioned to tap it in.
However, the Namibians never looked like surrendering especially with Herentals Queens also missing clear chances in the last 15 minutes and right at the death Iina Kakuta got them their consolation.
Herentals coach Lazarus Magaya hailed his charges’ spirit.
“We have a group of fighters,” he said.
“I am happy they implemented our game plan exactly how we designed it.
“The win will boost us going into the next match against Green Buffaloes on Saturday (tomorrow).”
Mafuruse, who was full of running throughout the afternoon said the players showed some good teamwork.
Teams:
Herentals Queens: Lindiwe Magwede, Bridget Mutaurwa, Alice Moyo, Egness Tumbare, Talent Mukwanda,Yeukai Chipatiko (Loveness Mukura 86min), Shyline Dambamuromo (Sikhulekile Nyoni 86min) Nyasha Munemo (Millanda Chimbwanda 69min),Praynence Zvawanda (Melanda Rungu 86min), Maudy Mafuruse, Polite Mabika
FC Ongos: Agnes Kauzulu, Memory Ngonda, Boitumelo Gammu (Jordan Wallace 60min), Iina Katuta, Utuzuvira Kahiriri (Twelikondjele Amukoto 32mins), Anna Shikusho (Juliana Blou 60min) Ivone Kooper (Beverly Uuezua 60min), Lydianna Nanamus, Livisa Mulunga, Julia Rutjindo, Fiola Vliete
Online Reporter