Zambia beat Ghana

QUALIFICATION to the last round of the 2011 Rwanda Under-17 Championship stage between Zambia and Ghana is off to a blast and indications from yesterday’s clash are that the tie is yet to start.

Both teams displayed massive talent and matched each other in every aspect of the game and the result could otherwise be said to be level given that Ghana scored an away goal which may be Zambia’s undoing in the return leg in a fortnight.

Zambia coach Osward Mutapa Junior has crossed one hurdle but he will need to unleash something special to match his soubriquet ‘Mourinho’ in this tie so evenly poised that bookmakers would dare not predict.

In yesterday’s game at Lusaka’s Woodlands Stadium, Zambian players were technically up to the task against a team that built up very well from defence but lacked the bite in the final third.

Goalkeeper John Banda displayed great feline agility, defender Chishimba Changala was plainly solid and the midfield dovetailed well with the strike force before a near-sellout crowd at the stadium.

Strikers Emmanuel Phiri and Moses Phiri did well to give Zambia a fat advantage inside 20 minutes before Ghana got the lifeline through John Nyamekye’s strike, throwing the qualifier wide open.

Zambia did well to pin down the former world champions with crisp passes and sporadic surges into attack until they got the first goal.

Phiri seized the initiative first, put his team into the lead when he blasted in Stephen Mutama’s cross in the seventh minute. There was a touch of brilliance to the goal and there was little goalkeeper Musah Tijan could do.

He helplessly watched the ball fly into the net.

Zambia enjoyed good spells of possession in the opening minutes and when the lead was extended in the 20th minute, there was a feeling of a whitewash among fans. And it was a wonder strike that was well-worked out between Phiri and Patrick Sakala.

Sakala’s initial shot was cleared by a defender and Phiri graciously feasted on it with a simple tap-in.

Zambia’s dominance could only go a certain distance as the Ghanaians came back into the game with midfielder Nyamekye’s goal which left goalkeeper Banda bemused in the 36th minute.

Ghana kept the pressure, forcing the defence to raise their game to avoid conceding.

The second half turned into a tit-for-tat affair and Banda was called into action to stop a ball flying across the face of goal as a striker was lurking at the far post.

That save earned him a round of applause but Ghana kept piling pressure while Zambia made some forays into attack, mainly using the wings.

Sakala should perhaps have put the game beyond reproach at the nick of time but ballooned his effort to the chagrin of fans who were glued to their seats waiting for the final action which, just about then, came.

Mutapa said he was impressed with his boys’ performance because it was difficult game.

“The boys have played well and we could have won 2-0 if it was not for that silly mistake that saw Ghana score. We have a young, determined and focused team. I am glad that they played well and beat Ghana,” he said.

He said he will work on improving the team’s weak points for the return leg.

His Ghanaian counterpart, Frimpong Manso, said his team scored a vital away goal and is optimistic of booting Zambia out of the qualifiers.

Despite the loss, Manso was impressed with his side’s performance and promised to give Zambia a good game in the return leg in a fortnight’s time.

“The goal is very important because it will help us in the return leg. Zambia played a good game and they are very good with long balls. We are very sure we will go through to the next round,” Manso said.