admin
Zimbabwe had lost the reverse fixture 2-1 in Bujumbura in February but managed to keep a clean sheet yesterday while getting the priceless strike that saw them advancing on the away goals rule.
There was anxiety in the 29th minute when holding midfielder Willard Katsande was shown a red card for head butting Burundi defender Emeri Nibumana in an off the ball incident inside the box.
Referee Eric Castane Otoyo from Gabon flashed a straight red for the Kaizer Chiefs midfielder who had been playing below his expected potential.
But Musona calmed the nerves of the fans in the 36th minute when he drilled home from the box after connecting a pass from Rodwell Chinyengetere who was earning his first cap.
The players rushed to hug their coach Rahman Gumbo who was a relieved man after his troops had been misfiring in the last two matches where they lost 1-0 to Guinea and then drew 0-0 with Mozambique in World Cup qualifiers.
But there was no denying the Warriors their place in the final qualifying for the draw on 5 July.
With more precision, the Warriors could have scored more goals but wasted their chances.
Zimbabwe nearly took the lead in the 5th minute when Vusa Nyoni who was outstanding in midfield, took a powerful freekick that The Swallows goalkeeper Janvier Ndikumana found too hot to handle at the first time but recollected the spill.
Midfielder Tinashe Nengomasha also tried to beat Ndikumana with a long-range effort in the 6th minute while Musona sent his effort off the target in the 8th minute.
Burundi threatened to spoil the day for the Warriors when their stand-in captain Saidi Ntibazonkiza made a fine run on the left channel where he worked his way past Oscar Machapa before curling a dangerous cross into the box in the 12th minute.
Ntibazonkiza, who plays for Polish side Cracovia, exhibited great talent with his close ball control and dribbling skills as he kept the Zimbabwean defence busy during the match.
There was hunger for a goal from the Warriors in the must-win match as Khama Billiat subtracted his marker on the right wing before sending in a pass for Chinyengetere.
Chinyengetere rushed forward but Ndikumana also came off his line to narrow the angle and the two players collided, with the goalkeeper coming worse off and had to receive medical attention.
Chinyeterere was lucky to escape without a yellow card after he was involved in some shoving with Ndikumana who seemed to have been picking up fights with his rivals.
After Zimbabwe were a man down, Tinashe Nengomasha dropped back to play deeper while the forwards Musona and Chinyengetere were also coming back to receive the ball.
The Warriors continued fighting for a win with Billiat unleashing a powerful free kick just outside the box but the ball sailed away from target.
Gabonese referee Otoyo became the fans’ enemy number one when he denied Zimbabwe a penalty in the 36th minute after Chinyengetere had gone down into the box following a challenge from a Burundi player.
The Hwange skipper had done well to beat his marker despite the challenge but then decided to fall when he could have remained on his feet and then passing the ball to Musona who was well positioned.
The fans went into an uproar while coach Gumbo had to be restrained by fourth official Roponat Mbourou as he protested against the decision to deny Zimbabwe a penalty.
But Zimbabwe’s disappointment was short-lived as Musona then scored the goal that earned Zimbabwe a slot in the next round when he fired home after a fine exchange of passes in the box.
Machapa could have extended the lead before the half-time whistle but he blasted straight at goalkeeper Ndikumana from the box.
Burundi continued to search for the crucial goal to save the match when Faty Papy came from the blind side to head the ball but Kapini collected.
Gumbo then pulled out Billiat for Takesure Chinyama and the Dynamos forward could have scored with his first touch of the ball after he jumped high to head a free kick from Machapa.
Kapini pulled out a stunning serve when he went airborne to tip over the bar a brilliant strike from Papy.
At the end of the match, the fans who rained missiles on the pitch after the defeat to Guinea, yesterday joined the players in doing the Zora Butter dance routine as they celebrated the victory.
Burundi coach Lofty Naseem accepted the result and said his team will move on.
“In football there a three results to be expected and these are a draw, a defeat or a win.
“My team is now out of the African Nations Cup but that will not be a problem for us.
“We have to move forward,” said Naseem.
Gumbo, naturally, was elated with the win which came as a huge relief for the nation.
“I did not see what Willard did to earn the red card,” said Gumbo.
Gumbo also praised his defence for being outstanding and was also happy that his team managed to score.
“I am happy that Musona is playing his part by getting the goal.
“The defence is also doing well,” said Gumbo.
Teams
Zimbabwe: T. Kapini, O. Machapa, E. Nyandoro, C. Nyadombo, O. Bhasera, T. Nengomasha, K. Billiat, (T. Chinyama 66th min), V. Nyoni, W. Katsande, R. Chinyengetere (D. Mukamba 68th min), K. Musona, (C. Kawinga 87th min)
Burundi: Javier Ndikumana, Saidi Ntibazonkiza, Gilbert Kaze, Hussein Mbanza, Karim Niligiyimana, Emeri Nibumana (Lamdit Mamugo 61st min), Hassan Hakilimana, Faty Papy, Cedric Amissi, Flobert Ndayisaba, Selemani Ndikumana.
Online Reporter