ONCE again, Warriors new captain Knowledge Musona put himself at the centre of the story, to score a memorable hat trick that decided the opening 2019 African Cup of Nations (Afcon) Group G qualifier against a battling Liberia before a heaving National Sports Stadium yesterday.
BY TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA
Handed the skipper’s armband this week, the Belgium-based forward soaked all the pressure that comes with the huge responsibility of leading the national team, driving himself to reduce the Liberia defence to rubbles, with his first hat trick for the Warriors.
He was so ruthless, the Lone Stars could not resist his fire power.
The way he dribbled past them, his composure in front of goal and the finishing, all spoke the language of football made easy.
With the hat trick, the 26-year-old now has 19 goals for the Warriors, 19 shy of the legendary Peter Ndlovu — the longest serving member of the Warriors.
After a rather slow start, the new look Warriors, featuring notable new faces such as Thabani Kamusoko, who played a blinder in the heart of midfield alongside the flourishing Netherlands-based Marvelous Nakamba, went into the lead on 24 minutes.
Musona beat an offside trap to meet a Danny Phiri pass from deep, which he drilled home with a low shot.
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The Warriors skipper doubled the lead four minutes into the second half, profiting from a cross from the right by Kudakwashe Mahachi, who had done brilliantly, before netting the third on 63 minutes from a pass by Partson Jaure.
He could have made it four later in the match, but his clever curling shot on 75 minutes crashed against the cross bar.
He had earlier missed an opportunity though in the opening 10 minutes, after he was set up by Nakamba.
His effort was seemingly handled by a Liberian defender, but his appeal for a penalty was turned away by the referee.
Liberia’s Marcus Macauley came close on the quarter hour, but he directed his effort wide.
The Warriors could, however, have killed the game in the first half, but Tendai Ndoro, was guilty of missing several opportunities.
On 31 minutes, Ndoro, who has slipped down on the pecking order at his South African club, Orlando Pirates, where he is struggling for goals, had his effort saved by the keeper from a cut in by Musona. Moments later, he also missed a header from a corner kick.
It was Kamusoko, instead, who came close, but his stunning free kick hit the underside of the cross bar on 41 minutes.
Teenage Hadebe, who partnered Jaure in the heart of the defence, nearly committed treason, miscuing his effort in a desperate bid to clear the ball from danger.
However, Russia-based, Sylvanus Nimely failed to punish the defender, slicing his effort wide of goal.
Teams:
Warriors: G Chigova, P Jaure, T Hadebe, E Chipeta, O Bhasera, D Phiri, T Kamusoko, M Nakamba, K Mahachi, (O Karuru, 87’), T Ndoro, (E Rusike, 71’) K Musona,
Liberia: B Souza, Z Krangar (D Murray, 57’), P Kennedy, H Varney, G Dirkir, T Dennis, S Nyumah, M Macauley, S Nimely, P Saydee, Mark Paye (C Jackson, 57’)
