Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
Mozambique . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1)1
Zimbabwe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2)3
AS has often been done by many a Warriors side at different tournaments, Zimbabwe once again saved their best for last at the ongoing COSAFA Cup football championships in South Africa yesterday.
Coach Simon Marange’s men had struggled in their opening Group A assignments when being restricted to a goalless draw by Mauritius before falling 2-0 to hosts South Africa. And with Mozambique, their opponents in yesterday’s game leading the group standings ahead of the final pool A games, the Warriors’ hopes had effectively been ended by their defeat to South Africa.
But Marange had vowed to compete until their last game. And indeed they competed in yesterday’s clash against the Mambas, the Warriors played with so much conviction that they threatened to overrun the Mozambicans, especially in the opening half.
Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya led from the front with his first-half brace, helping the team steamroll over Mozambique with the victory ensuring the second-string national team retained their dignity despite bowing out of the COSAFA Cup stage.
For once, Marange’s rookies looked like a decent team capable of matching even the best at the regional competition.
But they were always going to rue their lackadaisical performances in their opening two encounters as, for the first time in over a decade, six-time champions Zimbabwe exited the competition at the group stage.
Having already been eliminated from the competition following a lacklustre goalless draw against minnows Mauritius and a lifeless 0-2 defeat to South Africa, Zimbabwe never looked the same knowing they had nothing to lose in yesterday’s tie at the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein.
In a tournament where the head-to-head points are the first tie-breaker in terms of the COSAFA Cup rules, the Warriors stood no chance in all three possible outcomes from the final day of the Group A games.
The other match featured South Africa and Mauritius. South Africa on their part lost their opener 1-0 to Mozambique.
That means South Africa, already on three points, would, as they did, progress to the semi-finals with a draw coupled with a win for Zimbabwe. Mauritius, on their part, needed an outright win and prayed that the Warriors would beat Mozambique to ensure their own progress to the last four.
The Mambas needed just a draw from their game against Zimbabwe to clinch the Group A ticket. In the end the Warriors rose from the basement of the log standings to finish second in Group A behind South Africa while Mozambique slid into third.
The top three teams were tied on four points and Marange’s men were left to rue their negative head-to-head record off the lifeless show they put up against South Africa last Saturday. Despite finishing their group assignments unbeaten, Mauritius could only settle for bottom place with three points. In yesterday’s game the Warriors were in an uncompromising mood, as they showed a lot of attacking intent right from the first whistle with the Mambas’ ultra-cautious approach aiding the Zimbabweans.
Ngwenya, a menace to the Mozambican defensive line throughout the afternoon, stabbed home an intelligent lay-up by Nisbert Muzenda 23 minutes into the encounter but the effort was initially flagged for offside before a lengthy VAR review subsequently awarded the goal.
Buoyed by their first goal of the tournament, the Warriors started to play with even more collective conviction and nine minutes before the break, Ngwenya, who would be named man-of-the-match, was cluttered just as he was about to pull the trigger, winning a penalty in the process.
The FC Platinum striker sliced the spot kick home to double Zimbabwe’s advantage as they took cruise control against a panicky Mozambique.
However, Mozambique, desperate to draw the game to stand any chance of progressing, found the back of the net through a deflected shot from Leonel Calsao.
The second half was a see-saw affair with Mozambique being kept at bay by goalkeeper Tatenda Chikowero, who plays club football for Ngezi Platinum Stars.
As they threw too many men upfront, Junior Makunike blasted Zimbabwe’s third to ensure the points and second-place finish in Group A. “It was a good match from the lads.
“It’s unfortunate we ended up exiting in the group stage but the performance was very good from the players. I will give it to them,’’ said Marange.
Teams:
Mozambique: Acaco Muendane, Manuel Cumbane (Edson Mucuana 87min), Osama Pedro, Angelo Cantolo, Keyns Aboala, Leonel Calsao (Kelvio Neves 69min), Oscar Cherene, Fernando Jose (Baptista Francesco 87min), Ivene Cuboco Lourenco, Manhique
Zimbabwe: Tatenda Chikowero, Blessed Mashonganyika, Prosper Padera, Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya (Nathan Mutasa 90min), Junior Makunike, Prince Ndlovu (Tanaka Munemo 73min), Tinotenda Meke (Menzi Mazwi 79min), Allen Chapinduka, Nisbert Muzenda, Andrew Mbeba, Calvin Chigara
