Cosafa Competitions

DAY 1 WRAPUP

Zimbabwe grab 4/0 win in 2011 COSAFA Women’s Championship
Hosts Zimbabwe have started their 2011 COSAFA Women’s Challenge campaign with a 4-0 victory over Lesotho at the Rufaro Stadium in Harare on Saturday.
The Group A clash was a one-sided affair as Zimbabwe took control early on through Rudo Neshamba when she netted inside five minutes, and it was 2-0 midway through the half when Tsitsi Mairosi scored a stunner from range.
Rufaro Machingura made the score 3-0 as she chipped the ball into the back of the net, and the points were made absolutely safe in injury-time when substitute Kudakwshe Basopo tapped home.
Defending champions South Africa were made to work hard but eventually ran out 4-1 winners over Zambia in Group B at the Rufaro Stadium in the early kick-off.
Banyana Banyana took a 2-0 lead after 28 minutes as first star striker Noko Matlou converted from the penalty-spot, before she then forced an own goal from Zambia’s Mulayi Wilombe.
But the Chipolopolo Queens struck back just before halftime as Estas Banda prodded home after good work from Mupopo Kabange.
It was 2-1 at the break, but the South Africans made the game safe with two more goals in the second period. Amanda Dlamini volleyed home from a corner and Matlou found the back of the net to complete her brace and give the scoreline an emphatic look.
“Banyana Banyana played a pressure game, giving the Zambians very little time on the ball and the pressure put on their goalkeeper by Matlou which led to the fourth goal, is an example of the type of discipline and commitment that needs to carry us through the week if we hope to have a chance of lifting the COSAFA Championship title,” South Africa coach Joseph Mkhonza said after the game.
“We cannot afford to underestimate any team at this COSAFA Championship event and will use these matches as preparation for our home-and-away Olympic Qualifiers against Ethiopia in August and September.”
At the Gwanzura Stadium, Mozambique and Malawi played to a 1-1 draw in Group A in the early game, before East African special guests Tanzania beat Botswana 3-1 in Group B later on, having led 2-1 at the break.
The action resumes on Sunday when Lesotho need a win against Mozambique to bounce into contention in Group A at the Rufaro Stadium (12h30 kick-off) in what will be a first-ever meeting at this level.
At the Gwanzura Stadium, South Africa can just about make certain of a semifinal place as they tackle Botswana (15h15), where they will be looking for a repeat of their 2002 meeting when Banyana Banyana won 14-0. They also triumphed 5-1 in 2008.
Before that, Tanzania take on Zambia (12h30) in a tasty-looking tie that the Chipolopolo Queens must get at least a point from to have any chance of making the last four.
The match between Zimbabwe and Malawi at the Rufaro Stadium has been moved to Monday so that FIFA President Sepp Blatter can attend the game. It will kick-off at 15h15.
Zimbabwe beat Malawi 6-0 in 2002, their only previous meeting in the competition.

DAY 2 WRAPUP

Defending champions South Africa have secured their place in the semifinals of the 2011 COSAFA Women’s Championship after a 4-0 Group B victory over Botswana at the Gwanzura Stadium in Harare on Sunday.
Following their 4-1 success over Zambia a day earlier, Banyana Banyana have assured they cannot finish outside the top two in the pool.
The South Africans were always in control and had the lead on 16 minutes as skipper Amanda Dlamini scored with a powerful shot that left Thuto Ramafifi in the Botswana goal with no chance.
Noko Matlou added to her brace on Saturday with another goal as she netted from 35-yards just after halftime. Mamelo Makhabane then scored a contender for Goal of the Tournament with a superb effort that left Ramafifi helpless once more.
Zanele Sukazi made it 4-0 to South Africa just before the final whistle to keep them on course for the defence of their title.
Also in Group B on Sunday, East African guests Tanzania sealed their spot in the Last 4 with a 2-0 victory over Zambia, who drop out of the competition.
Asha Sada Rashid gave the Tanzanians the lead midway through the first half, before they added a second to seal the points.
Meanwhile in Group A, Lesotho edged Mozambique 3-2 to keep their semifinal hopes alive.
It was 2-2 at halftime with Boitumelo Rabale providing the pick of the goals for Lesotho midway through the first half, before Amelia Banze equalised for Mozambique with their best effort, a superb free-kick from 30-yards.
Rabale netted a fine winner for Lesotho though as she curled in a shot from distance than left Celeste Cuna in the Mozambique goal with no chance.
The other match in Group A between host nation Zimbabwe and Malawi will be played on Monday so as to allow visiting FIFA President Sepp Blatter to attend.
The top two sides in each pool advance to the semifinals, with the winners there to go head-to-head in the final on July 9. The semifinal losers will play for bronze in a third-place play-off.

RESULTS
Group A
02/07 Malawi 1-1 Mozambique
02/07 Zimbabwe 4-0 Lesotho
03/07 Lesotho 3-2 Mozambique
04/07 Malawi vs Zimbabwe
05/07 Malawi vs Lesotho
05/07 Zimbabwe vs Mozambique

Country P W D L GF GA Pts
Zimbabwe 1 1 0 0 4 0 3
Lesotho 2 1 0 1 3 6 3
Malawi 1 0 1 0 1 1 1
Mozambique 2 0 1 1 3 4 1

Group B
02/07 South Africa 4-1 Zambia
02/07 Tanzania 3-1 Botswana
03/07 South Africa 4-0 Botswana
03/07 Tanzania 2-0 Zambia
05/07 South Africa vs Tanzania
05/07 Zambia vs Botswana

Country P W D L GF GA Pts
South Africa 2 2 0 0 8 1 6
Tanzania 2 2 0 0 5 1 6
Zambia 2 0 0 1 1 6 0
Botswana 2 0 0 2 1 7 0

DAY 3 WRAPUP

Zimbabwe have cruised into the semifinals of the 2011 COSAFA Women’s Championship with a thrilling 8-2 victory over Malawi at the Rufaro Stadium in Harare on Monday afternoon.

Stars striker Rudo Machingura scored five goals as the home side came back from an early deficit to overwhelm their opponents.

The match was played in front of an appreciative FIFA President Sepp Blatter, who was on hand to witness a deluge of goals from early on in front of a capacity crowd.

The hosts were ahead inside eight minutes as Machingura scored after a pass from Tsitsi Mairosi, but Malawi hit back as Linda Kasenda used her skill to pull her side level.

And the Malawians were ahead soon afterwards when Kasenda scored her second, capitalising on a mistake from Zimbabwean defender Eunice Chidanha.

But that was as good as it got for the Malawians as Zimbabwe dominated proceedings from there on in.

Nokhutula Ndlovu brought the home side level with a fine strike, before Talent Mandaza netted from 30-yards with a shot that should have been saved by Malawian keeper Mwase Thoko.

Zimbabwe were further ahead just a minute later as Ndlovu started a finished a great move that saw her dribble past the keeper and finish into an empty net.

Machingura was then teed-up by Ndlovu for the home side’s fifth, before she scored a brilliant solo effort as she dribbled past four defenders to make the scoreline 6-2.

Machingura the capitalised on a great cross from Tsitsi Mairosi to score her fourth, and the rout was complete as Marjory Nyaumwe set-up the former to add her fifth of the day.

The semifinal places in this year’s tournament will be decided on Tuesday, though Zimbabwe, South Africa and Tanzania have already booked their places in the Last 4.

Lesotho could join them if they win or draw against Malawi, and Mozambique don’t manage an unlikely victory over the rampant Zimbabweans.

The top two sides in each pool advance to the semifinals on July 7, with the winners there to go head-to-head in the final on July 9. The semifinal losers will play for bronze in a third-place play-off on the same day.

RESULTS
Group A
02/07 Malawi 1-1 Mozambique
02/07 Zimbabwe 4-0 Lesotho
03/07 Lesotho 3-2 Mozambique
04/07 Malawi 2-8 Zimbabwe
05/07 Malawi vs Lesotho
05/07 Zimbabwe vs Mozambique

Country P W D L GF GA Pts
Zimbabwe 2 2 0 0 12 2 6
Lesotho 2 1 0 1 3 6 3
Mozambique 2 0 1 1 3 4 1
Malawi 2 0 1 1 3 9 1