Zambia overcome SA U-20s
● Striker Jonathan Munalula scored twice as hosts Zambia claimed a deserved 3-0 victory over SA to claim the 2019 Cosafa Men’s Under-20 Championship in front of a capacity crowd at the Nkoloma Stadium yesterday.
Francisco Mwepu netted a third in a dominant performance from the home side, which ended SA’s run of success in the regional showpiece tournament that had seen them champions in the previous two years.
Despite the result, coach Helman Mkhalele should be congratulated after his totally revamped squad assembled only a week before the competition, with the side having lost the likes of Lyle Foster, Njabulo Blom, Tashreeq Matthews and James Monyane.
They made two changes for the final, bringing in Kaizer Chiefs Keletso Sifama and Ubuntu Cape Town’s Vusumuzi Plamana, who replaced Rahim Milazi and Selaelo Rasebotja respectively.
The exciting BidVest Wits trio of captain Lancaster Human, defender Athenkosi Mcaba and forward Sinenjongo Mkiva were brought in, while hugely talented SuperSport United youngster Oswin Appollis also took his place.
After Human had a weak shot saved by the Zambian keeper, Molefe made a superb stop to keep out a header from Crawford Mwaba. That near miss seemed to spur the home side on and suddenly they were piling on the pressure and camped in the SA half.
They somehow failed to score on 31 minutes when Molefe again came to the rescue as Munalula’s header came off the underside of the crossbar. The officials ruled that the ball did not cross the line and in the ensuing scramble Molefe twice kept the home side at bay with point-blank saves.
But the dam wall finally broke on 40 minutes with a superb goal as Munalula’s brilliant overhead kick from the edge of the box looped over a stranded Molefe.
Appollis showed trickery in the box to create a shooting chance from a tight angle, but it was brilliantly beaten away by Zambia goalkeeper Prince Bwalya.
It was 2-0 just before the break as Zambia hit SA on the counterattack, Mwepu getting behind the defence and placing past Molefe.
SA created a number of half chances in the second period but the final nail in the coffin came with six minutes remaining when Munalula added his second.
Angola claimed the bronze medal with a 5-1 victory over Madagascar.