adminSenior Sports Reporter
Mozambique………………..(1) 2
Swaziland…………………. (1) 1 MOZAMBIQUE maintained pole position in Group A of the African Union Sports Council Region 5 Under-20 Youth Games with a hard fought victory over a determined Swaziland at Barbourfields Stadium in Bulawayo yesterday.
Just like they did in their opening encounter against Zimbabwe which ended in 1-1 draw at the same venue the day before, Mozambique finished the match with 10 men on the field of play, their skipper Adriano Santos sent off deep into injury time for what seemed like use of abusive language towards South African referee Thando Ndzandeka.
Mozambique got their goals from Milvan Salimo in the first half and a penalty from Santos in the second period. Wandile Dlamini found the target for Swaziland in the first half.
The Mozambicans are on top of the five team Group A with four points from a win and a draw.
Swaziland thought they had taken the lead a minute into the encounter when Junior Mabuza controlled a cross inside the box, slammed ball into the nets only for the goal to be disallowed as Ndzandeka adjudged that Mabuza had used his hand to bring the ball down before scoring.
Mozambique went ahead with two minutes played, Salimo poking the ball in between the legs of Swaziland goalkeeper Lwethu Simelane. Young Isihlangu levelled matters a minute later, Dlamini beating an advancing Mozambique goalkeeper Antonio Muquetua.
Jose Cumbane fluffed an opportunity to put Mozambique back in the lead when he shot over the bar from a well taken free kick from the left in the eighth minute.
On the other end, Dlamini wasted a chance when he guided his attempt at goal wide with 13 minutes played. Five minutes later, Melusi Nyaweni also had his effort going wide when sent through as Swaziland continued to pile on the pressure with nothing coming out of their efforts as the scoreline was 1-1 going into the break.
Mozambique were awarded a penalty five minutes into second half, substitute Hermenegildo Capena going down under the challenge of Ntsika Simelane, the Swaziland defender coming out the worst from the challenge which saw him spend some time off the field getting treatment. Santos converted from the spot with a low effort into the left corner.
Swaziland started piling on the pressure in search of an equalising goal, Justice Figareido bringing out a great save off Muquetua with a well taken strike from outside the box, the Mozambican keeper doing well to push it out for a corner with an hour played.
Mozambique held on for a win but with a second red card in the tournament, things might get tougher for Darion Monteiro’s boys as the competition progresses.
Teams
Mozambique: Antonio Muquetua, Domingos Nguenha Junior, Yuran Ribeiro, Jose Cumbane, Micas Mucavele Junior(Capena 46 minutes) , Adriano Santos, Milvan Salimo(Ernesto 49 minutes), Shopai Macuiana, Andre Manhica(Mondlane 78 minutes), Silvio Inguana, Igor Bobo
Swaziland: Lwethu Simelane, Ntsika Simelane, Ncwala Dlamini, Lindo Zwane(Kwanele Dlamini 66 minutes) , Mlamuli Msibi, Mangaliso Khumalo, Zamokuhle Langa, Junior Mabuza(Likhwa Manyatsi 86 minutes), Wandile Dlamini, Justice Figareido, Melusi Nyaweni( Banele Dlamini 86 minutes)
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