Zambia beats South Africa

Sat, 17 Dec 2016 10:51:23 +0000

…as they lift  the COSAFA cup  for the 11th time since the competition began

BY BENNIE MUNDANDO

ZAMBIA U-20 national soccer team were yesterday crowned as COSAFA champions for the 11th time since the competition began after beating South Africa 2-1 in a breath-taking encounter played at the Moruleng Stadium.

Both teams went into the break with scores tied at 1-1 after South Africa equalised through Kabelo Seriba four minutes before the end of the first half following Kenneth Kalunga’s opener in the eighth minute.  Zambia started the better side as the Junior Chipolopolo stamped their authority over the hosts with Fashion Sakala, Patson Daka, and Enock Mwepu taking turns to torment the South African defence with prolific skills and sizzling runs which kept the defenders on their toes.

South Africa came under attack within three minutes of the game when a header rammed the bar after a long-range searching pass into the area which got better of them but denied by the metal.

Zambia continued searching for the opener and again came close to scoring in the sixth minute through Mwepu who benefited from Daka who dispossessed Seriba on the right corner and cut inside but Mwepu’s weak shot was smothered by the South Africa keeper Sanele Tshabalala.

Kalunga then found the back of the net from close range after coming in the box late to stab home while South African defenders remained rooted to the ground and ball watching.

South Africa’s clear chance came in the 23rd minute after winning a free-kick just outside the box but poor communication between Ibongakonke Mbatha and Luther Singh failed to produce a better move.

Zambia again threatened with a second goal with Prosper Chiluya who released a long-range attempt after overlapping on the right but the shot was way off target.  South Africa then equalised on the 41st minute after Mangani Banda brilliantly parried a free-kick but Seriba stabbed the ball for the equaliser after defenders left him unmarked at the near post to tie the scores at 1-1 at the break.

It was wave-after-wave in the second half as a compacted South African side went for goals, thereby opening up spaces for the Junior Chipolopolo to exploit their opponents in a thrilling encounter befitting a cup final.

Chilufya, Sakala, and Sakulanda continued tearing the opponents apart with a virtuoso of performances keeping fans reeling to a skilful Zambian side which continued to torment the Amajinta with most of the attacks orchestrated from the wings, forcing the visitors to retreat from time to time to seal the defence.

However, it was Boyd Musonda’s scotcher five minutes to full time when he received the ball at the edge of the box to send a flying half volley which sailed past a diving Tshabalala to steal the limelight away from home. South Africa would have levelled the scores at the stroke of full-time when Seriba sent a shot which Banda saved and the Chipolopolo managed to thwart the successive danger deep in added time to lift the coveted prize.