LIVE UPDATE
Cosafa opener – Warriors take on Mauritius
Staff Reporter
ZIMBABWE Warriors kicked of the 2009 edition of the Cosafa Castle Senior Challenge
W.Arubi G.Mapemba A.Nhongo (Z.Ngodzo 88min) D.Vheremu M.Mwanjali M.Maphosa T.Kamusoko (A.Gutu 67min) C.Semakweri T.Rusike N.Mushekwi (E.Gwekwerere 14min) C.Malajila
A.Augustin J.Edourdo JM Diolle (A.Lemince 74min) J.Content V.Boodhun LL Pithia J.Ernest (J.Sokalingum 75min) J.Sophie L.Badul L.Cundasamy (capt) P.Bell ( JPBerzegue 75)
Ref: Ebrahim Basit (RSA)
Crowd 25 000
2min kicked off at a blistering pace forcing Aboo Augustine the Mauritius keeper to make two saves inside one minute from Nyasha Mushekwi and Thabani Kamusoko efforts. Mushekwi hobbled off injured but returned to continue but in obvious discomfort.
Zimbabwe survived a scare in the fourth minute when a defensive mix up allowed Jonathan Ernest free on goal but keeper Washington Arubi saved with his feet as Mwanjali cleared. Still goalless but right back Gilbert Mapemba is yellow carded for dissent (8min).
12 min Cuthbert Malajila beat the off side trap and lobbed over the keeper but could not hit the back of the net. A minute later Asani Nhongo missed the target with a brilliant volley as Zim turned on the screws.
14 min Crowd favourite Evans Gwekwerere replaced the injured Mushekwi. He was 72 seconds old when he “scored” after a brilliant move by Gilbert Mapemba and Chris Semakweri but the effort was ruled out for offside.
21 min Malajila missed with a header from a Maphosa cross on the right as Mauritius choked under pressure.
23 min Tafadzwa Rusike shot skimmed from the keeper grasp but he gathered from the second effort. Again Malajila missed with a close header as Semakweri chartered An avenue on the right with his dribbling mesmerizing the Mauritius defence.
26 min Another Semakweri cross causes pandemonium in the Mauritian box but the chance went begging again – the score remain 0-0
28 min Mwanjali yellow carded for rough play and Mauritius take a free kick in Zim half for the first time in the match
30 min Tafadzwa Rusike wasted a brilliant chance to double the advantage when his effort flew over bar
33min The match being played entirely in visitors half but Kamusoko is injured from a bad tackle by Louis Badul. The resultant drop kick sends Gwekweree free but defenders clears for a corner, a fourth of the half.
36 min Rusike denied by the brilliance of keeper from the right
39 min Malajila fouled the keeper in aerial tussle and the referee awards a free kick in the box – a reprieve for the under pressure Mauritius.
41min Goalkeeper Arubi released Gwekwerere with a long kick but his beautiful cross was missed by Malajila with the keeper exposed.
44min Fourth official signaled one minute of added time.
46 min Halftime whistle blows to sent players down the tunnel for a break 0-0 still the score but a glut of missed chances is the story of the half. Mauritius lucky not to have conceeded.
46 min Mauritius kicked off but immediately lost possession
47 min GOAL………Malajila did justice to a good pass from Maphosa to beat keeper with a pile driver to the right of the goalkeeper to break the deadlock. 1-0 Zimbabwe. Early half pressure pays off for Zimbabwe.
50min Zim got a free kick after Mapemba was fouled as he went for the kill
52 mins Augustin left his line to clear a hanging ball in the box and succeeded in punching the ball out but in the process felled his defender forcing the ref to stop the match.
54 mins Nhongo unlucky again as keeper saved brilliantly from close range
55 min GOOAL……Malajila jumped highest to beat keeper at the post 2-0 after Nhongo beat his marker on the byline and pulled back a lofted cross and the Dynamos striker pounced.
57 min Archie Gutu replaces struggling Kamusoko in midfield - it is advantage Zimbabwe
62 min Maphosa injured from a 50-50 ball
69 min Mauritius attack broken down by Daniel Vheremu with an easy clear out and a few seconds later Jean Sophie’s weak shot saved by Arubi.
70 min Achieford Gutu’s first time shot missed the right up right with keeper beaten. Mauritius survived another scare
73 min From a Mapemba shot, Mario Diolle almost beat his keeper with a deflection
75 min Rusike failed to tap in after a keeper spilled Gutu shot and Mauritius survive again
80 min Berzerque replaces Bell as Mauritius attempts to shore things in the middle of the park
82 min Mauritius captain weak header saved by Arubi in the visitors first attack.
84 min Mapemba takes a quick free kick to release Gutu into the opposition box
85 min Gutu is fouled and wins an indirect kick in the box and captain Mwanjali put it past keeper for a 3-0 victory. GOAL…It was a CAPS United affair as Mapemba tapped for Mwanjali to blast past diving keeper in the crowded box.
87 min Arubi yellow carded for time wasting
88 min Zephania Ngodzo is on for the impressive but injured Nhongo as Zimbabwe ran down the clock
89 min Eduardo red carded for a head butt on Malajila and Mauritius down to 10 man with just three added on minutes to play.
90 Ref blows to end the match and Zimbabwean players go on a lap of honour as Asani Nhongo lifts the man of the match award after a sterling performance on the left.
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