adminSibhekisipho Fayayo Sports Reporter
Malawi 2-1 Mozambique
MALAWI’s Under-20 men’s football team came from behind to beat Mozambique in an exciting AUSC Region 5 Under-20 Youth Games match played at Luveve Stadium yesterday. The win ensured that the Young Flames of Malawi shot to the top of Group A table with two matches to go. They have made it two out of two so far in the competition as they beat Angola 1-0 in their first match.
They now lead the table with six points, one ahead of their next opponents, host Zimbabwe.
Malawi got their goals in the 73rd minute through captain Gregory Nachipo who converted from the spot and Emmanuel Lino three minutes later. Mozambique had shot into the lead through the boot of Adriano Santos in the eighth minute.
The match got off to a pulsating pace with Mozambique having the lion’s share of the exchanges and it was no surprise when they took the lead through Santos.
He got to the end of Nilton Ernesto’s long pass and showed composure by controlling the ball inside the box under the challenge of Limbani Phiri before slotting the ball in between the legs of advancing Christopher Mikuwa in goal for Malawi.
The goal seemed to have awakened the Young Flames out of their slumber as they started attacking the Young Mambas relentlessly.
Emmanuel Lino could have equalised for Malawi in the 10th minute but sent his effort wide from inside the box after being set up by the industrious Kudakwashe Sauzane.
Malawi went in search of an equaliser but their striking pair of Yusuf Luanda and Lino took turns to fluff chances created by impressive and skillful Edwin Carlos.
In the 22nd minute Mozambique thought they had doubled the lead when Hermenegildo Capena tapped the ball into the net after a lay-off from Carlos only for the assistant referee James Emile from Seychelles to signal for offside.
After the resumption, Malawi continued with their search for an equaliser which was proving to be elusive.
Their attempt was made even worse by the rainy conditions and the wind which was blowing in the direction of their goal.
However, lady luck smiled on them in the 73rd minute when referee Brighton Chimene pointed to the spot after Nangaunozge Luhanga was brought down inside the box by Jose Bores Cossa.
Nachipo sent Antonio Jao Muquetua the wrong way. The goal sparked wild celebrations from the small crowd that had braved the chilly weather. Malawi struck again three minutes later.
Lino collected the ball a few metres from the centre circle, waltzed his way past Mozambican players before unleashing a scorcher just outside the box into the top left corner of Maquetua’s goal. Malawi now need to beat Zimbabwe to secure a semi-final spot.
Online Reporter