admin
Tadious Manyepo in PRETORIA, South Africa
Zimbabwe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
Mozambique . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0)2
THE Mighty Warriors finished fourth at the Cosafa Women’s Championship following this third-place play-off final defeat at the Lucas Moripe Stadium yesterday.
After narrowly losing to Zambia in the semi-final on Friday, Zimbabwe were looking to pick at least a bronze medal on their return to international football after a two-year suspension from FIFA.
But things did not go the way coach Shadreck Mlauzi had planned on his return on the bench after sitting out the semi-final defeat to Zambia “for personal reasons”.
The veteran gaffer made six changes to the side that started the game against Zambia to give everyone who travelled a feel of the game.
Outstanding goalkeeper Cynthia Shonga was replaced in goal by Herentals shotstopper Lindiwe Magwede while Praynance Zvawanda, 17-year-old Patience Ndlovu and Maudy Mafuruse were given their first starts in this tournament.
Alice Moyo and Tanyaradzwa Chihoro also bounced back into the Starting 11 as captain Rudo Neshamba, Shyline Dambamuromo, Privilege Mupeti, Edline Mutumbami and Christabel Katona all sat on the bench.
The Zimbabweans were nervous throughout the match but contained their opponents commendably well until they made two mistakes that gifted Mozambique with their two goals torwards the end.
After surviving a scare at the hour mark when VAR ruled out Deolinda Gove’s goal because there was a foul in the lead up, Zimbabwe’s defensive shield was broken by Lucia Mocambique with three minutes before time as Purity Mugayi and Daisy Kaitano made suicidal mistakes at the back.
Mocambique latched onto a loose ball, and lofted the ball over Magwede who had been drawn out to help mop up the mess.
Zimbabwe pushed for an equaliser, camping in the Mozambican half bit were always susceptible to counter attack.
And when it came, Magwede parried the ball wide before fumbling the resultant corner kick that was tucked home by Cina Manuel right at the death.
Yet Zimbabwe should have taken the lead had Mafurufe done justice to Chihoro’s perfectly flighted cross at the left flank just after the restart.
That was Zimbabwe’s only meaningful chance in the entire match after failing to register any shot at goal in the first half.
But this is a team which punched well above its weight given where the country is coming from.
Mlauzi said the technical team have somewhere to start.
“We have picked so many positives from this tournament. We have somewhere to start in terms of going forward,” said Mlauzi.
“We are going home with our tails up as we gave a good account of ourselves. The players gave it their all and we salute them”.
Teams
Zimbabwe
Lindiwe Magwede, Eunice Chibanda, Vimbai Mharadzi, Nobukhosi Ncube, Purity Mugayi,Daisy Kaitano, Patience Ndlovu (Edline Mutumbami 57min), Alice Moyo (Privilege Mupeti 68min), Tanyaradzwa Chihoro, Praynance Zvawanda(Christabel Katona 67min), Maudy Mafuruse (Rudo Neshamba 67min)
Mozambique
Neima Nhamire, Rosa Mainque (Lonica Tsanwane 46min), Ataide Brenhunze, Ines Chingueleze, Deolinda Gove(Cina Manuel 70min), Cidalia Cuta, Amelia Cazembe, Amelia Banze, Lucia Jose Mocambique, Emilia Mazembe(Isaura Chidembo 70min), Rosiline Nemias
Online Reporter