Shepolopolo  settle for  bronze

Sun, 24 Sep 2017 10:02:56 +0000

By MICHAEL MIYOBA

THE Zambia national women’s team yesterday grabbed bronze after coming from behind to beat Kenya 4-2 on post-match penalties in the third and fourth play-off of the 2017 COSAFA Women’s Championship in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.

Zambia started the match on a bright note but strikers Barbra Banda and Grace Chanda missed a couple of chances, which could have seen the Albert Kachinga tutored girls find the back of the net within the first 10 minutes of the game. The Shepolopolo dearly paid for their misses when Neddy Okoth gave Kenya the lead in the 29th minute.

Zambia tried to get back into the game but were unfortunate as Kenya’s shot stopper Pauline Owino stayed put to deny the Banda led strike force’s efforts. Banda almost equalized five minutes before the break but watched in agony as her shot flew over the bar.

However, her efforts paid off in the 70th minute when she levelled for the Shepolopolo after beating Owino.

Five minutes before the final whistle, Banda almost doubled the lead for Zambia but her shot on target did not trouble Owino, who made a fantastic save to deny the Shepolopolo a win in regulation time.

The match ended 1-1 and the winner had to be decided on penalty shootouts. Kenya missed two spot kicks while Zambia scored all the four penalties to be crowned bronze winners.

Hosts Zimbabwe battle it out with their neighbours, South Africa- the three time winners, in the final this afternoon in Bulawayo.

South Africa edged Zambia 5-3 on post-match penalties last Thursday after the semi-final clash ended 3-3  while defending champions Zimbabwe whacked Kenya  4-0.