Zimbabwe . . . . . . . . . 0 Guinea . . . . . . . . . .(1) 1
Zimbabwe got off their 2014 Fifa World Cup campaign with a disappointing start after they were beaten by Guinea in a Group G qualifier at the National Sports Stadium yesterday.
Disappointed fans threw missiles onto the pitch after the match, an act that will surely attract the wrath of Fifa.
Ibrahim Traors retaken free-kick on the 26th minute from the edge of the box curled away from goalkeeper Tapuwa Kapini to settle in the top left corner.
The Warriors dominated play and had all the chances to win the match, some of them glaring but strikers Knowledge Musona and Takesure Chinyama, usually dependable, were a disappointing lot.
Musona hit the net on the hour mark but his effort was ruled offside just after his header had been cleared off the line. There was no urgency early on with the first real attack coming just over the five-minute mark when Guineas big dreadlocked centre forward Naby Suamah broke loose on a counter, sprinting long the whole field only to be stopped by defender Esrom Nyandoro as he approached the box.
The Warriors had survived their real scare at this moment but were enjoying far more of the attacking play. On nine minutes, Musona released Khama Billiat on the left and the Ajax Cape Town midfielder laid the ball to Chinyama who failed to bundle home from a metre out and his effort was blocked by goalkeeprr Naby Yattara.
Chinyama had the chance to redeem himself for that glaring miss six minutes later when a cut-in from Musona fell on him but the big striker shot straight at Yattara. The rebound fell back invitingly for the big striker who hit the side netting. At this stage, it was a one sided affair with the hosts enjoying possession but the final ball was always disappointing.
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With the Warriors missing every chance that came their way, there was always danger they were going to be punished at the other end.
Nyandoro conceded a foul at the edge of the box and Traors first attempt at goal from the resultant kick went wide but Mauritius referee Rajindraparsad Seechum instructed a retake adjudging Tinashe Nengomasha to have moved from the wall before the kick had been taken. The midfielder was booked for his conduct.
Traor did not waste his second attempt, curling the ball over the static Warriors wall into the top corner.
Zimbabwe almost responded immediately when a long ball from the back found Ovidy
Karuru whose shot was blocked by the goalie and Musona blasted over minutes later.
On the half hour, Zimbabwe got a free kick on the right which leftback Vusa Nyoni curled in to find an unmarked Chinyama, who disappointingly headed wide.
Coach Rahman Gumbos reaction was to pull out Archford Gutu for Willard Katsande on 35th minute to add some grit in midfield.
Musona blazed horribly over four minutes later while Nengomasha was involved in a scuffle with a Guinea midfielder as frustration by the home side started to show.
Zimbabwe finished the half strongly with Billiat also attempting from long range but a goal couldnt just come.
The pattern of the second half followed that of the first and had the Warriors been more precise with their passes in the final third of the pitch, they would surely have scored at least three goals in the second stanza.
A minute after the restart, Musona created space on the right before smashing the ball across the face of goal.
Three minutes later, Billiat who had a subdued game and was later substituted for Denver Mukamba, shot wide after Musona had missed the ball with an overhead kick.
The need for a goal was felt more strongly as the Warriors enjoyed one of their best spells of the game with Karuru outstanding on the left wing. It almost came but Musonas angled header was cleared off the line by a defender with the goalkeeper stranded.
The Germany-based striker thought he had found the much needed equaliser at the hour mark when he slotted the ball past the goalkeeper but the assistant referees flag was up for offside.
Barely a minute had passed when Musona found himself inside the penalty box, but still saw his shot deflected wide by the feet of the goalkeeper.
It was just not Musonas day as he raced through on 65 minutes and with the crowd up on their feet in anticipation of a goal, he blasted the ball straight at the goalkeepers face when chipping the ball over the sprawling goalkeeper could have done the trick.
Gumbo introduced Terrence Mandaza later on for Chinyama. It was desperate times for the Warriors as Musona again hit the bar from a free kick.
And when Katsande also got an opportunity from a free-kick five minutes from time, an advertising board took the pounding.
As the final whistle blew, some hooligans started to throw missiles onto the pitch and for almost five minutes the two teams were trapped on the field before the police intervened to clear the unruly mob.
Karuru whose shot was blocked by the goalie and Musona blasted over minutes later.
On the half hour, Zimbabwe got a free kick on the right which leftback Vusa Nyoni curled in to find an unmarked Chinyama, who disappointingly headed wide.
Coach Rahman Gumbos reaction was to pull out Archford Gutu for Willard Katsande on 35th minute to add some grit in midfield.
Musona blazed horribly over four minutes later while Nengomasha was involved in a scuffle with a Guinea midfielder as frustration by the home side started to show. Zimbabwe finished the half strongly with Billiat also attempting from long range but a goal couldnt just come.
A minute after the restart, Musona created space on the right before smashing the ball across the face of goal.
Three minutes later, Billiat who had a subdued game and was later substituted for Denver Mukamba, shot wide after Musona had missed the ball with an overhead kick.
The need for a goal was felt more strongly as the Warriors enjoyed one of their best spells of the game with Karuru outstanding on the left wing. It almost came but Musonas angled header was cleared off the line by a defender with the goalkeeper stranded.
The Germany-based striker thought he had found the much needed equaliser at the hour mark when he slotted the ball past the goalkeeper but the assistant referees flag was up for offside.
Barely a minute had passed when Musona found himself inside the penalty box, but still saw his shot deflected wide by the feet of the goalkeeper.
It was just not Musonas day as he raced through on 65 minutes and with the crowd up on their feet in anticipation of a goal, he blasted the ball straight at the goalkeepers face when chipping the ball over the sprawling goalkeeper could have done the trick. Gumbo introduced Terrence Mandaza later on for Chinyama.
It was desperate times for the Warriors as Musona again hit the bar from a free kick.
And when Katsande also got an opportunity from a free-kick five minutes from time, an advertising board took the pounding.
