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Zimbabwe 2-1 Malawi
ZIMBABWE’S Young Warriors turned on the power in the second half to overcome a battling Malawi and secure a semi-final place at the on-going African Union Sports Council Region 5 Youth Games at Barbourfields yesterday.
After a goalless opening stanza in which they were guilty of missing numerous chances, often hurrying the opportunities that came their way, the Young Warriors eventually found their range late on in the second period to secure top spot in Group B.
The hosts had started the day in third place and under pressure to secure a win in order to secure one of the top two positions in Group B.
Backed by an enthusiastic crowd of about 4 000 who braved the afternoon rains in Bulawayo, the Young Warriors found their goals through a 76th minute penalty by diminutive forward Ishamel Munsaka before Thomas Kadyaridzire bundled home from close range in the first minute of time added on.
South African referee Thando Ndzandzeka had added four minutes of his optional time and there was still more time for Malawi to pull a goal back via a penalty by skipper Limbani Phiri to set up a tense finish to the game.
The goal was, however, not enough to save the Junior Flames from slipping from second to third place and out of the contetion as Angola, who had been top at the start of the day, replaced the Malawians.
Zimbabwe will now face Group A runners-up Namibia while favourites Zambia take on Angola in the other game, also scheduled for Luveve.
The Zambians were the most impressive side in the pool stages, winning all three of their matches and scoring 12 goals in the process. Their defence was breached just once.
The third-place play-off for the losing semi-finalists will take place on Sunday, followed by the final of the competition later in the day.
With the Young Mighty Warriors having been mauled 5-0 by Botswana in a women’s mid-morning clash at Luveve, pressure was on the Young Warriors to make amends for football and it seemed to be a frustrating afternoon for them until the last quarter of the game when they got their breakthrough.
In thumping Zimbabwe , Botswana stole the limelight of the day’s games as that win ensured they leapfrogged their opponents into second place and claimed the silver medal in the women’s football competition.
South Africa, who had already secured gold on Wednesday, finished the tournament on a high with a 6-1 victory over Namibia.
Botswana were 2-0 up inside 17 minutes thanks to a brace from Chedza Katsibe and then added a third before halftime from Boitumelo Gammu.
They added two more in the second period as Refilwe Tholakele and Thapelo Moshe found the back of the net in a ruthlessly efficient performance.
South Africa made an equally fast start as Linda Sepotokelle scored a first half hat-trick and Mosili Makhoali added a fourth before the break. Namibia did get on the scoresheet in the opening half as Anna Marie Shikuksho profited from a mix-up in the South African defence.
But it was normal service resumed in the second half as the rampant South Africans scored two more with Makhoali getting her second and Bongeka Gamede putting her name on the scoresheet two minutes after coming off the bench.
South Africa were by far the dominant force in the competition, winning all three matches and scoring 14 goals in the process. They conceded just two.
Men’s Competition
Group A
05/12/14 Zimbabwe 1-1 Mozambique
06/12/14 Angola 0-1 Malawi
06/12/14 Mozambique 2-1 Swaziland
08/12/14 Zimbabwe 3-1 Swaziland
08/12/14 Mozambique 0-2 Angola
09/12/14 Malawi 2-1 Mozambique
09/12/14 Angola 1-1 Zimbabwe
10/12/14 Swaziland 1-1 Malawi
11/12/14 Swaziland 0-4 Angola
12/12/14 Zimbabwe 2-1 Malawi
Team P W D L GF GA Pts
Zimbabwe 4 2 2 0 7 4 8
Malawi 4 2 1 1 5 4 7
Angola 4 2 1 1 7 2 7
Mozambique 4 1 1 2 4 6 4
Swaziland 4 0 1 3 3 10 1
Group B
05/12/14 Zambia 6-1 South Africa
06/12/14 Namibia 1-0 Lesotho
08/12/14 Namibia 0-2 Zambia
08/12/14 South Africa 1-3 Lesotho
10/12/14 Zambia 4-0 Lesotho
10/12/14 South Africa 0-0 Namibia
Team P W D L GF GA Pts
Zambia 3 3 0 0 12 1 9
Namibia 3 1 1 1 1 2 4
Lesotho 3 1 0 2 3 6 3
South Africa 3 0 1 2 2 9 1
Semio-finals
13/12/14 Zimbabwe vs Namibia, Luveve Stadium
13/12/14 Zambia vs Malawi, Barbourfields Stadium
Women’s Competition
05/12/14 Namibia 1-2 Zimbabwe
05/12/14 South Africa 3-1 Botswana
07/12/14 Zimbabwe 0-5 South Africa
10/12/14 Botswana 1-1 Namibia
12/12/14 Namibia 1-6 South Africa
12/12/14 Zimbabwe 0-5 Botswana
Team P W D L GF GA Pts
South Africa 3 3 0 0 14 2 9
Botswana 3 1 1 1 7 4 4
Zimbabwe 3 1 0 2 2 11 3
Namibia 3 0 1 2 3 9 1
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter