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Zimbabwe/Egypt: Young Warriors Date Egypt
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Zimbabwe Standard (Harare)
3 May 2008
Posted to the web 5 May 2008
Ndamu Sandu
EAGLES midfielder Tendai Ran- thokoane lit Gwanzura Stadium with a dazzling display, which ensured the Young Warriors progressed to the next round after dismissing Lesotho in an African Youth Championships qualifier.
Zimbabwe will meet Egypt in the first round for the ticket to the Championships hosted by Rwanda next year.
The lanky midfielder was behind most of the Young Warriors' moves, winning a penalty before grabbing Zimbabwe's second goal with a beautiful header in the 77th minute. CAPS United midfielder Tafadzwa Rusike had earlier given Zimbabwe the advantage from the penalty spot in the 38th minute.
The Young Warriors made their intentions clear as early as the fifth minute when defender Noel Soko, whipped in a beautiful cross inside the box but there were no takers. Four minutes later Matthew Rusike found Knowledge Musona inside the box, only for the Aces' player to head over the bar.
The visitors then threatened to score in the 28th minute when Gift Kwaramba cleared off the line a Lesotho raid, with goalkeeper Francis Nico off-guard. A minute later, fans heaved a sigh of relief when the referee waved play-on as striker Neo Makama, stumbled inside the box.
The Young Warriors finally surged ahead in the 38th minute when Ranthokoane was pulled off-the-ball in box, as he was about to pull the trigger and Botswana referee Joshua Bondo pointed to the spot. Rusike coolly slotted home to level the scores on aggregate. Lesotho beat Zimbabwe 1-0 in the reserve fixture. After the breather, the Young Warriors took control of proceedings with Ranthokoane and Rusike orchestrating most of the raids.
A second goal finally came in the 77th minute. From Musona's corner-kick, Ranthokoane rose majestically and placed his header beyond the reach of Phoka Matete, in goals for Lesotho.
The Eagles' midfielder then threatened to add a third, when his 86th minute header beat Nico but not the upright post with the 8 000 fans off their seats.
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The Lesotho team acquitted themselves well but paid the heavy price of solely depending on Makama in most of their raids. As the game wore on, it was clear that the task was too big for the Orlando Pirates player.
Yesterday's encounter got off to a disastrous start when the prison band, supposed to provide the national anthem, arrived late at the stadium.
Zimbabwe... (1) 2Lesotho... (0) 0(Zimbabwe win 2-1 on aggregate)
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