Stars Afcon journey starts with win
Taifa Stars striker Mbwana Samatta (right) is challenged by a Zimbabwean defender during their 2015 Afcon first round, first leg match at the National Stadium yesterday. Stars won 1-0. photo | michael matemanga
What you need to know:
- John Bocco struck the solitary goal in the 13th minute after a superb exchange of passes with Thomas Ulimwengu and Mbwana Samatta.
Dar es Salaam. Tanzania took a slim, but valuable advantage after beating Zimbabwe 1-0 in the first round, first leg of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations at the National Stadium yesterday.
John Bocco struck the solitary goal in the 13th minute after a superb exchange of passes with Thomas Ulimwengu and Mbwana Samatta.
The national team, Taifa Stars, now need a least a draw in the return leg planned for Harare in a fortnight, to romp into the next round.
Should they see off the wounded Warriors, Stars will go head-to-head with either Mozambique or South Sudan in the next round.
The match kicked off with the visitors dominating proceedings in the first five minutes, but they will have Ndoro to blame for missing two early clear-cut chances.
Stars overcame a nervy start with a series of shock waves on the Zimbabwe goal, but Samatta and Ulimwengu could not convert their chances.
Stars, who are under the tutelage of Dutchman Mart Nooij finally got a breakthrough in the 13th minute when Ulimwengu played a through pass to Samatta who fed the towering goalscorer. Stars continued to create decent chances, but the likes of Mrisho Ngassa, Samatta and Frank Domayo fluffed them. Midway through the first half Zimbabwe retook control of the game and gave Deogratius Munishi a hard time between the posts.
Towards the final five minutes of the first half, Bocco nearly doubled the Stars advantage, but his shot flew slightly over the bar.
Stars went to the dressing room for the breather leading, but the Zimbabweans were seemingly satisfied with their work rate. After the resumption, Zimbabwe looked dangerous and Mahachi’s volley in the 46th minute saw Munishi stretch fully to clear the goal-bound effort. Stars responded swiftly with Bocco squandering two clear chances within a minute.
After near misses, Stars lowered their tempo, which allowed the visitors to terrorise them from the flanks.
However, the Nouij boys held on to the final whistle for a narrow win that many fans will certainly not be proud of. Speaking after the match, Nooij congratulated his players for the victory and expressed optimism that they will get a better result in Harare.
“The boys deserve credit for the win, but we must work harder ahead of the second leg. I am confident that we will get a better result in Zimbabwe and progress,” said the Dutchman.
His Zimbabwean counterpart, Ian Gorowa blamed the defeat on the absence of his key players and nursed hopes of overturning the score in Harare.
MORE INFO: STARTING LINE-UPS
Tanzania: Deogratius Munishi, Shomari Kapombe, Oscar Joshua, Nadir Haroub, Kelvin Yondani, Frank Domayo, Mrisho Ngassa, Mwinyi Kazimoto, John Bocco, mbwana Samatta, Thomas Ulimwengu.
Zimbabwe: George Chigoya, Partson Jaure, Danny Phiri, Hardlife Zvikekwi, Stephen Alimenda, Tendai Ndoro, Milton Ncube, Kudakwashe Mahachi, Cuthbert Malajila, Peter Moyo, eric Chipeta.
