Tue, 23 May 2017 14:18:47 +0000
By MICHAEL MIYOBA
SENEGAL started their Korea 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup on a high note after defeating Saudi Arabia 2-0 in the first group F fixture yesterday.
Ibrahima Niane’s brilliant volleyed effort gave Senegal the lead in the 15th minute of the game before Cavin Diagne added a second two minutes later to propel the junior Teranga Lions to 2-0 first half lead.
Senegal continued threatening Saudi Arabia throughout the match and produced several goal scoring chances but Saudi Arabia goalkeeper Mohammed Alyami made several brilliant saves to keep the 2017 AfCON u-20
runners-up at bay.
The result moved Senegal to the summit of group F after USA and Ecuador started their under 20 world cup campaign with a draw.
Bryan Cabezas and Jose Sargent both scored braces in their opening Group F match as Ecuador and USA played to a thrilling 3-3 stalemate.
The South American runners-up started their campaign with a bang as they scored two quick goals in a space of seven minutes of the match.
USA, however, responded well to the early setback with 17-year-old Jose Sargent finding the back of the net in the 36th minute of the game before heading in the equalizer in the 54th minute after Brooks Lennon found him with a pinpoint-accurate cross from the right wing.
Ecuador then regained the lead in the 64th minute after an error by USA goalkeeper Jonathan Klinsmann who hobbled a back pass before clearing the ball right into Cabezas’ path who did not hesitate to guide the ball to the back of the net.
USA leveled the scores moments before the end of the match with midfielder Luca de la Torre pouncing on a poor clearance to drive a right-footed shot into the bottom right corner of the net.
Meanwhile France began their FIFA U-20 World Cup Korea Republic 2017 campaign with a 3-0 bashing of Honduras.
Jean-Kevin Augstin was the first to find the back of the net through a well taken free kick from yards.
Amine Harit doubled the lead for France through a deflected goal a few minutes before halftime while France’s Martin Terrier made it 3-0 when he nodded in the 80th minute for France to collect maximum points.
In another fixture, Vietnam and Zealand earned their first point after recording a barren draw in Cheonan city.
Meanwhile Zambia will seek to maintain their perfect start at the Under 20 South Korea world cup when they take on group C second placed Iran in their second group C fixture of the Under 20 South Korea world cup to be played at Jeju Stadium.
The Junir Chipolopolo will seek to emulate their brilliant form which saw Beston Chambeshi’s boys collecting maximum points against tournament favorites Portugal in the first group C match.
Both Zambia and Iran having the same number of points after their wins in their first fixtures at the tournament
A win for either of the two teams will earn them direct qualification to the round of sixteen with six points from two games.
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Wydad beatable, Zanaco coach
By MICHAEL MIYOBA
ZANACO is improving every day and we are focusing on getting maximum points in the CAF Champions league game against Wydad Casablanca because it is a beatable side, Zanaco coach Mumamba Numba has charged.
Speaking during an interview with Daily Nation sports ahead of the game at the National Heroes stadium in Wednesday, Numba said his team will leave nothing to chance in ensuring that it noshes in all the three points against the Moroccan giants.
“We are ready for this Wednesday’s fixture against Wydad Casablanca. We are improving in each and every game but there are some areas were we still need to work on before the game.
“Wydad are a beatable side and I think we can collect maximum points when we face them this Wednesday,” Numba said.
Meanwhile the Moroccans arrived in Zambia and conducted their first training session yesterday in the afternoon at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka.
This will be Zanaco’s second CAF Champions’ league group D fixture of the tournament.
The Zambian champions recorded a barren draw with record eight times CAF Champions league winners Al Ahly in the first group D fixture played in Egypt.
Meanwhile, Zambia’s envoys in the confederations cup tournament, Zesco United have arrived in Sudan where the team is scheduled to take on Al Hilal in their second CAF group C match.
However, head coach Zlatko Krmpotic has complained of the tight schedule of fixtures Zesco had to fulfill in a period of five days.
Krmpotic said it would not be easy for Zesco as they are required to fulfil three fixtures in five days.
“It’s not going to be easy, we have a CAF game on Wednesday and on Sunday again we play Zanaco and in each game we have to start with our best players and our team does not have a lot of players for rotation,” Krmpotic said.
A win in tomorrow’s fixture will see Zesco maintain its position at the summit of the group.
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Buffaloes coach slams ref after draw
By MICHAEL MIYOBA
GREEN Buffaloes assistant coach Charles Bwale attributed his team’s barren draw against Napsa stars in a week seven fixture on Sunday at Edwin Imboela Stadium in
Lusaka to poor officiating.
Napsa Stars and Green Buffaloes played to a barren draw in the lunch-time kick off and Bwale believes the officiating was below par and could have coasted Buffaloes maximum points.
The tightly-contested week match saw Green Buffaloes completing the match with 10 men after substitute Jaspa Masialeti was given a red card in the 70th minute, a decision which did not go well with standing in Coach Charles Bwale.
“I am disappointed with the way the match officials handled the game. The officiating wasn’t good. The red card could have affected us but I’m happy my players contained Napsa Stars and managed to collect a point,” Bwale said.
Meanwhile Napsa Stars Coach Tenant Chilumba said he was satisfied with the point collected against the soldiers.
“A point was enough for us. We were coming from a loss and collecting a points from today’s fixture is ok. I just want to congratulate Buffaloes for being tactical. After the red card we thought we could win it from there but our opponents were tactical and defended well,” Chilumba said.
Meanwhile, Red Arrows beat Police sponsored Nkwazi 1-0 in the second fixture of the double header played at Edwin Imboela stadium in Lusaka.
A sixth minute Patrick Nkoma header from a Stanley Nshimbi’s corner kick was enough to give Honour Janza’s men maximum three points away from home.
Despite having dominated play, Nkwazi suffered their second defeat of the season with their first loss coming in the week for fixture which ended 1-0 against Napsa Stars.
Nkwazi missed a couple of chances which could have seen them collect maximum points against an unimpressive Red Arrows side. Justine Shonga Missed a clear goal-scoring opportunity when he sent his header off target in the 13th minute of the game.
Another chance for Nkwazi to level matters came in the 37th minute but Shonga once again hit the side netting.
The win pushed Arrows to ninth position on the league table with 10 points.
