Zambia feasts

… 5-goal blitz demolishes Zim Warriors

COACH Sithethelwe Sibanda watched in distress as Zambia reduced her Mighty Warriors into minnows in a 5-0 demolition at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka.

Zimbabwe now have an uphill battle to score six unanswered goals when they welcome Zambia this Sunday in a 2020 Olympic second round return leg in Harare. Zambian fans were treated to a feast as the Shepoloplo commanded the match in the second half and scored five goals in a space of 30 minutes. Skipper Misozi Zulu broke the deadlock in the 51st minute when she scored a classic from outside the box into the top right of the net. Grace Chanda doubled the scores in the 73rd minute and six minutes laer completed her brace when she tapped in Rachael Nachula’s pass. Nachula made it 4 in the 85th minute and Europe- based forward Rachael Kundananji added the icing to the cake with a volley four minutes after. Zambia were in brilliant form in the first half but missed over five chances with Kundananji being the major culprit. Kundananji squandered an opportunity to put Zambia ahead when she headed out a superb cross from Misozi Zulu after 15 minutes. Zimbabwe breathed a sigh of relief when Chanda’s goal was ruled out as it was an indirect free kick. Zambia also survived a scare in the 27th minute when Emmaculate Msipa pounced on a defensive error to unleash a low shot past keeper Hazel Nali but the goal was ruled out for off-side. Kundananji missed two clear chances much to the frustration of fans. Coach Bruce Mwape said he was happy that the girls had delivered at home which gives them the advantage heading into the second leg. His counterpart Sibanda said she was not shocked with the result as her girls had not trained for the game. “The girls were not physically strong, we had not met for a single training and only met on the day of travel. They tried to be strong but physically collapsed in second half,” she said. Should Zambia win the two- legged tie, they will face the winner between South Africa and Bostwana.

Zambian fans were treated to a feast as the Shepoloplo commanded the match in the second half and scored five goals in a space of 30 minutes.

- Picture by Miyoba Michael She-polopolo captain Misozi Zulu attempts to beat Zimbabwe’s Makoto Sheila during an Olympic Qualifier played yesterday at Nkoloms Stadium.