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Eddie Chikamhi Senior Sports Reporter
JORDAN ZEMURA appears to be going from strength-to-strength, in the Bournemouth senior team, and provided one of the highlights for his English Championship season, at St Andrew’s on Wednesday night.
The Zimbabwe international defender has played every game, since the start of the campaign, in the second-tier of English league football.
It all started after he was drafted to cover for injured left-back, Jack Stacey, during a Cup game on the eve of the new season.
And, Zemura appears determined to make this position his own, for good.
He has established a good understanding with fellow Cherries academy graduate, Jaidon Anthony, who plays left wing.
The two young players were impressive again on Wednesday night as Bournemouth claimed a 2 -0 victory away at Birmingham City, with Anthony scoring his debut league goal, for the Cherries.
Zemura was part of the young Cherries defence, with an average age of just under 22 years, which kept their first clean sheet of the season.
Bournemouth manager, Scott Parker, reserved special praise for the Zimbabwe defender, who made some key interceptions, and also got into some good positions, down the left channel.
Late goals from Anthony and Dominic Solanke helped Bournemouth maintain their unbeaten start in the Championship.
Zemura made a crucial intervention, in between the two goals, to defend his team’s lead, with a priceless block, eight minutes before the end. The hosts had managed to get behind the Bournemouth defence, with a fine build-up, on the other wing.
The ball was then slid across the face of goal by Jeremie Bela, for a teammate at the back post, for what could have been an equaliser.
But, just as the Birmingham forward was about to tap the ball home, Zemura threw his body in the way and made an amazing clearance on the line, which caught the eye of Parker.
“Defensively, we were very good,” said Parker.
“It’s always difficult to come to this place, they put you under constant pressure. We have to be brave on our back-line and stay up high.
“We had to really focus on our details, as a back unit in terms of our body shape, when we drop in.
“So, we were casting real focus on the back players and they did very well. The block, or the recovery from the young JZ (Zemura), was fantastic.
“It was not just JZ but I thought there were a couple of times when we really put our bodies on the line, in protecting our goal and keeping a clean sheet, so I am pleased.’’
Zemura has featured in all three league games for the Cherries this season and they have won two and drawn one.
While things look promising for Zemura, the same cannot be said about his Warriors teammate, Teenage Hadebe, and his new team, Houston Dynamo, in the United States.
They crashed to yet another defeat in Major League Soccer on Wednesday evening, in what has been a 13-match winless streak, after a 1-2 defeat at Real Salt Lake in Utah.
The defender has featured in seven matches, since his arrival last month, and is yet to taste victory.
A late goal from Anderson Julio sealed Dynamo’s fate as the club dropped second-from-bottom, in the 13-team MLS Western Conference league, with their latest defeat.
They last won a league match on May 23 when they beat Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1.
What the fans said about Zemura (via Bournemouth Echo)
Wandering Exile — Great performance, once again, the youngsters rose to the occasion, we did miss David Brooks and his bursts into the area, especially in the first half but well done. Please, Mr Parker, could we scrap the zonal marking at corners, we do not look at ease, my man-of-the-match (is) Jordan Zemura.
Mark Rodgers — The young lads all did very well. But the game actually turned when we brought experience off the bench (which has not been available before). It’s a long season, you need to be able to cope with injuries and rotate and, however good Zemura, Rossi, Anthony prove to be, I doubt any of them will play close to 46 league games.
Makadaiko — Such a pleasing result, ground out a performance in the first half and turned the style in the second. Zemura’s best game for us — he was playing as an extra midfielder, leaving a solid three defence. Nice tactical play. His goal-line clearance at 1-0 was vital.’’
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