By Perkins-Tino Bare.
Harare. (News Of The South) – Barely a week after beating Malawi away from home, Zimbabwe got off their latest campaign for a fourth consecutive berth at the CHAN 2016 Finals taking place in Rwanda to a good start as they beat the Comoros Islands 2-0 in a match played at the Rufaro Stadium recently.
Zimbabwe struck as early as the 10th minute as Evans Rusike found his way going inbetween two defenders before finishing it off himself as he slotted it home for the opener sending the packed crowds into a buoyancy early in the match. The Warriors were all over Comoros and in the 14th minute the coach was already looking at his watch. Prior to the goal Thomas Chideu had roasted a couple of defenders as well before his chance was wasted.
In the 14th minute the Warriors got a free kick for a back pass and they failed to capitalise as it went on to strike the upright. Another chance was missed as well as a floating corner kick was flighted into the box but the number of defenders was enough to clear for safety. Comoros started showing some real intent to fight back in the 18th minute as they were starting to make it over the centre circle into the Warriors half. They then went on to get their first corner kick in the 20th minute as they continued to push for an equaliser. The Warriors goalkeeper for the day Bernard Donovan was on vacation during the first half but this later changed in the second half when for a moment Comoros genuinely thought they could pull one back.
Ronald Chitiyo and Thomas Chideu seemed to be combining well on the left flank but there was no one to support the two though Evans Rusike seemed lethal in his finishing touches as he had an eye for the goal. The Warriors then won a free-kick in the 31st minute and Danny Phiri stepped up to take it but it went straight into the air. The Warriors could have doubled their lead in the 31st minute as Wisdom Mutasa missed a glorious opportunity and they lanched another attack.
It was a much better corner kick from the Comoros in the 38th minute. Zimbabwe’s play was rather frustrating in the first half as they were missing clear cut opportunities and seemed unable to get that 2nd goal. Highlander`s player Nqobizitha Masuthu (hope I got that right) missed another glorious opportunity 2 minutes from half time and Chitiyo went for goal again a minute later with his weaker foot but the second seemed to be just eluding the Warriors.
The build-up was okay particularly from the left flank but the finishing was simply awful as the Warriors missed simple opportunities. In Spite of the couple of pushes for that second goal towards the end of the 1st half the boys just seemed to be unable to put it in the back of the net and I`m sure Pasuwa had a lot to say to them during the break.
Comoros could have equalised early in the 2nd Half as they started off threatening in front of goal. It looked set to be a tale of two halves but Chitiyo could have silenced them in the 51st minute but he skied his effort. In the 55th minute Wisdom Mutasa was at the receiving end of the whistles of disapproval as the crowd was getting frustrated at the Warriors.
In the 57th minute there was a rather odd moment off the ball as journalists were being ordered to move away from the goal post of the Comoros as they were rather too close.
In the 59th minute Devine Lunga was stretchered off as he was clutching onto his knee in immense pain. This seemed to be serious which then forced Pasuwa to make a substitution. In the 61st minute Chitiyo missed another efffort which was set-up from him as the Warriors were just blowing it away chance after chance and all it would take was a goal from the Comoros to silence the frustrated crowd.
Chitiyo was causing waves in the final third but, just like most of the players on the day he lacked that eye for the goal except for Evans Rusike whose shots were on target.
In the 66th minute the Warriors could have equalised but another chance from Evans Rusike went beggingas a result of a miscommunication in the 69th minute between the Comoros goalkeeper and his defender.
The Comoros were also getting desperate as seen by their ridiculous penalty appeal but they were eventually put to bed when Marshall Mudehwe clutched onto a ball Tino Kadewere was scrambling for to put the crowd on their feet as they celebrated the much waited for goal and with the return leg to be played in the Comoros Islands slated on the 3rd of July the Warriors look well on course for their fourth consecutive CHAN qualification.
Pasuwa blamed the approach that his charges employed on the day, “We were playing in our own half instead of going to them” he said, “We need to have more creativity in the attacking third” The analysis was spot on as the attacks by the Warriors were rather amateurish that is of course ruling the first goal but during the course of the game and especially the second goal which was virtually scrambled for. He failed however to rule the importance of the second leg and also bemoaned the ongoing crisis at Zifa which just never seems to end.
His counterpart from the Comoros who needed an interpreter admitted that it was difficult and so they needed a lot of quality for they came short and there is still a lot to look forward in the second leg as it is also expected to be difficult as well. With some players who were missing today expected to make the return leg it is expected to be an exciting trip for the Warriors to the Comoros.
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