Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo-Zimpapers Sports Hub
Herentals Queens ……………… 0
Costa do Sol ………………… (1) 2
IT is a blow they might never recover from in the CAF Women’s Champions League COSAFA qualifiers, with the situation now delicate for Zimbabwe representatives, Herentals Queens.
This follows the deflating defeat the team suffered at the AW Muller Stadium in Johannesburg in the ongoing regional eliminator. That effectively means “Vagoni Vebasa” no longer have their destiny in their own hands as they only have one more game in the three-team Group C to try and rescue the campaign. Only group winners are guaranteed progress to the semi-finals and Herentals Queens needed to pick up at least a draw to remain in control of their future.
But a combination of mistakes and jitteriness did not help matters for them.
They allowed their opponents to dictate the tempo of the match, being pinned back in the initial moments and conceding three corner kicks in a space of five minutes.
But once they dealt with that threat, they looked more like the usual relentless Herentals Queens’ side that has dominated the local league in the past three years.
The final product was never there, although twin strikers Bethel Kondo and Praynance Zvawanda did come close, with the former razing the crossbar with a left-footed effort.
But once they failed to fully utilise their chances, Costa do Sol took full advantage of the situation, with Lucia Mocambique opening the scoring on the half-hour mark.
The strike needed to be confirmed by VAR after it had initially been ruled out for offside.
At that point, the Zimbabweans tried to find a way back, but they were always rushing their play.
At the resumption, Herentals Queens looked the better side, but a calamitous mistake by Bridget Mutaurwa at the back gifted Costa do Sol their second, Eunensia Kachamba doubling the misery for them six minutes into the second half.
At that point, panic crept into the Herentals Queens squad, with Kondo, Zvawanda, Alice Moyo and substitute Morelife Nyagumbo failing to convert from good positions.
Herentals Queens coach Irene Mwanza said: “We are obviously sad and disappointed with this defeat. We live to fight another day. It was a bad day in the office. Our opponents took their chances and we failed to do the same.”
Herentals now need to pray that Costa do Sol lose to Comoros side Olympic de Moroni and then they comprehensively beat the latter to stand a chance of progressing to the semis.
Teams
Herentals Queens
Lindiwe Magwede, Praynance Zvawanda, Bethel Kondo, Tabeth Mutinhiri, Yeukai Chipatiko (Christabel Zulu 54min), Alice Moyo, Elizabeth Bvunzawabaya (Maudy Mafuruse, 46min), Shyline Dambamuromo (Mellanda Rungu,35min), Bridget Mutaurwa (Polite Mabika, 67min),Talent Mukwanda, Nyasha Munemo (Morelife Nyagumbo, 46min)
Costa do Sol
Neima Nhamhire, Cheila Afonso, Aurora Ngale, Ines Chinguezele, Angile Mutula, Rosa Mainque, Eunensia Machava, Marlene Janeiro (Johana Mussuie, 67min), Samira Latifo, Lucia Mocambique, Armenia Machava
