The Zimbabwe Under-20 soccer team began their Cosafa Under 20 championships campaign in the most disastrous fashion after they were clobbered 5-1 by Zambia in the two teams’ opening Group B match at the Moruleng Stadium in South Africa yesterday evening.
BY SPORTS REPORTER
Zambia opened the scoring in 41st minute when Patson Daka fired past an on-rushing Zimbabwe goalkeeper, Nelson Chadya after a period of sustained pressure.
Three minutes later, Young Chipolopolo doubled their lead through a header by Edward Chilufya, as Zambia went to the halftime break with a comfortable two-goal lead.
Zambia got their third on the hour mark, and were four-nil up in the 80th minute as the Young Warriors struggled to find answers to their opponents’ attack.
Former Gifford High School student, Bukhosi Sibanda scored Zimbabwe’s consolation goal from the spot in 87th minute, but it was Zambia who had the last say in the match, when they scored right at the death through Moses Nyondo, to complete an emphatic victory.
With only one team advancing to the semi-finals, the Mandla Mpofu-coached side are surely staring elimination, as they need to better Zambia’s score when they face the third team in the group, Malawi, tomorrow.
They will also pray that Malawi beat Zambia by a narrow margin.
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