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Junior Flames scorch Zambia
By
Frazer Nazombe in Lusaka, Zambia - 19-08-2002 |
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Malawi 3
Zambia 2
The Malawi national schools team under-lined their serious intention to return home with the Coca-Cola regional cup when they edged Zambia 3-2 in a thrilling match played on Saturday at Woodlands Stadium in Lusaka, Zambia.
Having drawn 1-1 with Zimbabwe in the first game, the junior Flames put their act together in the match against Zambia to bag three points which brought their tally to four.
The win automatically shot Malawi to the top of the Coca-Cola regional finals league as hosts Zambia were held to a goalless draw by Zimbabwe in an earlier match played at the same venue.
Malawi’s Joseph Kamwendo, who scored the goal against Zimbabwe in the 21st minute, masterminded Zambia’s downfall by drawing first blood with a well calculated long shot near the centre line in Zambia’s half three minutes into the game.
Zambia were out of sorts in the entire game and lacked the flair and creativity to level the score as their efforts were denied by a resilient Malawi defence marshalled by Francis Malipa.
The left-footed Kamwendo, a big threat to the Zambian defence, slipped past two of his markers before releasing a waist-level cross which Mapopa Musukwa complemented to make it 2-0 on 25 minutes.
Zambia nearly pulled one back two minutes later but their striker Bruce Band, who was lurking in the penalty area, blasted the ball over the cross bar after collecting a high ball.
The junior Flames controlled proceedings for long periods in the first half and enjoyed possession with intricate passes until half time.
Pep time talk seemed to have little impact on the hosts who put up a scrappy performance that moved their fans to support Malawi instead.
Malawi’s Gift Makoloni could have increased the lead in the 39th minute but his header from Kamwendo’s cross went slightly over the woodwork.
But the Zambians counter-attacked and caught Malawi on the break. Their striker Lawrence’s young brother Harry Milanzi, who plays for the senior team, reduced the arrears on 44 minutes following a defensive error.
But Makoloni killed all hopes for an equaliser three minutes afterwards when he finished home a fumbled ball by Zambia’s goal keeper Masautso Phiri.
Zambia refused to sit back and soak the pressure as they frantically surged forward in search for a goal which came when Banda headed in when Malawi’s keeper Fabiano Mofolo had left his line to punch away an aerial ball.
A representative of Southern Bottlers Malawi Limited (Sobo) Khwesi Msusa, who accompanied the junior Flames to Lusaka, said Malawi could have made mince meat of Zambia.
“We should have won by more goals, and the coach should not hesitate to make timely substitutions,” said Msusa.
Malawi national schools team manager Gilbert Ng’onamo, who was overwhelmed by the victory over Zambia had this to say:
“We conceded those goals because of defensive errors and we are going to sort them out, but it’s good to win,” said Ng’onamo.
Coach Lawrence Waya said the performance was very good unlike in the Zimbabwe game which they approached with tension.
“They did not play their game against Zimbabwe, but after encouraging them to jack up they did well in this game,” said Waya. |
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