Harare — Zimbabwe ............................................................(0) 1

Gabon.................................................................0

CAPTAIN Peter Ndlovu scored a second half penalty to help the Warriors claim an important win over impressive Gabon in a 2006 World Cup/Nations Cup Group Four qualifier at the giant National Sports Stadium yesterday.

This was far from an elegant display in front of a near capacity crowd but the result offered the Warriors reason to hope and they could as well start making visa inquiries out to Egypt for the African Cup of Nations finals.

It was the Warriors' second consecutive win at home and their third in this marathon campaign and now they head for Algeria in two weeks time, closer to a second consecutive appearance at the Nations Cup.

Ndlovu put a forgettable first half display behind him and converted a 52nd minute penalty, which was awarded after crowd favourite Shingi Kawondera was hacked down but should have been a free-kick outside the box according to television replays.

It was Ndlovu's 35th goal since he became a Warrior almost 13 years ago.

For the second time in as many matches at the National Sports Stadium, the Warriors needed a second period performance to see off the Gabonese side who made the Warriors chase shadows in the first half.

The Warriors were playing a 4-4-2 formation with the captain and Joel Luphahla joining Esrom Nyandoro and Tinashe Nengomasha but creativity in the heart of the midfield was not a characteristic anyone could associate with this line-up.

The captain played in the same role he offers service at his South African Premiership side Mamelodi Sundowns but nothing seemed to work out as the midfield was suffocated without any respirator to save the situation.

But they were the first to threaten early on when Ndlovu found space on the left channel after just 40 seconds and the move ended with Zenzo Moyo directing his powerful header just over.

Nyandoro was forced to defend deep as the waves of attack were rolled consistently at the Warriors and Nengomasha had found discomfort in a blind alley.

It was the Warriors though who still had the tenacity to test the goalkeeper as they found an alley towards the final third after 16 minutes of Gabonese dominance.

Buymore defender James Matola sent a long clearance upfield that was flicked on by Kawondera and Luphahla latched on to the good pass on the right. He broke into the area through the Gabonese captain Guy Nzeng and his cross was predictably cut out by the goalkeeper Didier Ovono.

The Gabonese had their first chance at goal after 20 minutes when the menacing Nguema spotted Energy Murambadoro off his line and quickly sent a speculative effort towards goal before the big goalkeeper dived to clutch the ball to safety.

Three minutes later, the home side were the architects of a beautiful move that started off with Edelbert Dinha and involved Luphahla and Kawondera on the right. The latter then released a well-positioned Moyo but unfortunately the big striker scuffed his shot and it weakly rolled into Ovono's grateful hands.

Gabon continued their dominance, as the Warriors struggled in midfield where they allowed the visitors a free reign.

The pressure took its toll on the Warriors and Dumisani Mpofu, an oasis of calm in defence with his crucial interventions that offered a sense of security, enlisted his name in the culprits' book when he clattered on Rene Nsi Akoue nine minutes from the break.

With four minutes to the break, Murambadoro was saved the blushes by whoever the world called Lady Luck.

Gabonese midfielder Cedric Moubamba delivered a hanging cross, which should have been a simple take for the inactive goalkeeper but he completely lost his concentration and he found the ball drifting between his hands.

But Nguema was too slow to react and by the time he got to the ball, it was too late as it had just crossed the line.

Energy was really fortunate!

The period disappeared with disappointment following the Warriors to the dressing room and when they came back, they forced their first corner of the match after 46 minutes.

Unbelievable!

The corner kick did nothing to trouble the Gabonese but you could tell that the Warriors were now intent on salvaging something out of this battle. The breakthrough came in the 52nd minute as Kawondera went tumbling after a challenge from captain Nzeng.

Kawondera was outside the box but Ugandan referee Ssegonga Muhmed, who was struggling for pace, controversially awarded the home side a penalty.

The Warriors could have made it 2-0 after 58 minutes when Luphahla broke free on the left but his shot could not sail beyond Ovono, the Gabonese goalkeeper making a decisive save from close range.

The Warriors coaches sought to bring mobility on the pitch and dragged off Moyo for Mashiri, who was in the squad that commenced the World Cup journey in the preliminary round with the 3-0 defeat of Mauritania in October 2003.

Reigning Soccer Star of the Year Cephas Chimedza, a second half replacement for Charles Yohane, sent his effort crashing against the wall on it's way towards goal. The Gabonese keeper could only flap the ball back into play but there was no Warriors jersey nearby to tuck in the rebound as Nzeng cleared to safety. The Gabonese had two good chances to equalise, first Nzigou broke into the box but Matola flung himself into a decisive tackle before Nguema sent a last minute effort wide with Murambadoro at his mercy.

At the end of the match Gabon coach Jairzinho, a Brazilian, was furious with the Ugandan referee.

"We were cheated, that was not a penalty, these referees in Africa always do that. Football in Africa is not fair. He gave Zimbabwe the win and my boys played very well but because of the referee they lose (sic)."

Warriors assistant Moses Chunga complained of fatigue in his team but was happy with the result that takes them very close to Nations Cup qualification.

"We had a terrible first half, we needed to rectify our midfield because all the balls were coming through the middle.

"But we rectified that in the second half and I think we were better. The players, like I said before, look very tired and we will do our best to manage the situation," said Chunga.