Carlos Kambaekwa
13 October 2008
Windhoek — Gangling striker Wilko Risser's well taken brace and a copy book goal apiece from Rudolph Bester and Paulus "Wire" Shipanga propelled Namibia to a 4 - 2 victory over Zimbabwe in an action-packed match at the Independence Stadium on Saturday.
The win lifted the Brave Warriors from the bottom of Group B to move above Zimbabwe as the curtain finally came down on the FIFA 2010 World Cup and CAF African Nations Cup qualifiers.
Zimbabwe were the more enterprising in the opening stages and pinned the hosts in their own half with midfielder Esrom Nyandoro coming close with a long range effort that flew inches past the upright following a quickly taken corner kick.
At the other end Shipanga found himself with acres of space on the right wing when the tall winger latched onto a flick-on by Risser from Sydney Plaatjies' telling cross, but the usually cool as a cucumber goal poacher blasted his shot wide.
From the resultant goal-kick, the ball was cleared to Joel Lupahla who in turn sent a cleverly executed cross into the Namibian danger zone. Athiel Mbaha in the Warriors goal heaved a huge sigh of relief when Pride Tafirenyika's powerful close range diving header kissed the cross bar and bounced back into play.
Risser picked up a loose ball in the middle of the park and caught everybody by surprise including his own teammates when he suddenly unleashed a cracking shot from 40 meters out that left Zimbabwean goalkeeper Tapuwa Kapini catching flies for Namibia's opening goal in the 18th minute.
The goal seemed to awaken Zimbabwe who started playing with more purpose and from one of their forays the ball landed neatly to the unmarked Joel Lupahla, but the veteran midfield schemer almost hit the skies from an inviting position.
The hosts should have increased their slender lead when Bester found himself through but instead of laying off the ball to the lurking Sydney Plaatjies on his left or either Risser on the far right - the stocky striker became too ambitious and went for glory. Kapini was not troubled by the long range effort and averted the danger with ease.
However, the pocket sized striker atoned for his earlier indiscretion when he left his marker for dead and coolly slotted home a gem of a goal in 30th minute (2 - 0) .
The hosts started to gain momentum with Colin Benjamin calling the shots in the middle of the park as the bow-legged schemer showed that he was in a different league as opposed to the other 21 players on the pitch.
Winger Sydney Plaatjies was brought down on the edge of the penalty area and from the resultant free kick - Shipanga curled the ball into the top corner of the net to give Namibia an unassailable 3-goal lead, two minutes before the halftime break.
With the writing clearly on the wall - the visitors resorted to long range shots but the ever alert Mbaha was equal to the task.
Risser completed his brace 8 minutes into the second half with a close range header from Quinton Jacobs' floated free kick.
Zimbabwe should have narrowed the deficit but dreadlocked striker Gilbert Mushangazhike wasted a gilt-edged chance after a misunderstanding between Mbaha and Richard Gariseb. As the match wore on, winger Lazarus Kaimbi came on for the injured Plaatjies.
Zimbabwe's substitute Clemence Matawu gave the Namibian rearguard some headaches when he replaced the ineffective Quincy Antipas at the restart. Mushangazhike made up for his earlier miss when headed Joel Luphala's innocent looking cross into an empty net in the 58th minute.
Coach Tom Saintfiet pulled off Bester and unleashed Jamu Ngatjizeko in the 70th minute but the visitors retaliated by sending on Obvious "Ovidy" Karuru and Cuthbert Malajila in place of Tafirenyika and Lupahla respectively.
Nyandoro tried his luck with a ferocious left footer but found Mbaha in an uncompromising mood.
Jerome Louis replaced the limping Risser in the latter stages of the match but the move yielded little effect as the visitors pulled baack another consolation goal - courtesy of poor marking. Substitute Malajila rose above a static defence to head in Zimbabwe's second goal from a corner kick - 5 minutes from time.
However, it was too little, too late and Zimbabwe will now join Namibia amongst the early casualties from the marathon FIFA 2010 World Cup and CFA African Nations Cup qualifiers on the sidelines.
A clearly elated Warriors' coach Tom Saintfiet praised his charges for sticking to the game plan and expressed confidence in the team. "Credit to the players, they really played well and to score four goals at this level is no chicken feed - though I'm not happy with the manner in which we conceded those two silly goals but there's certainly room for improvement."
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