Monrovia — Musona struck his first goal for the Warriors as Zimbabwe got their 2012 Africa Cup of Nations Group A qualifying campaign off to a promising start with a battling performance against Liberia at the Samuel Kenyon Doe Sports Complex here last night.

Musona, featuring in only his fourth international for Zimbabwe since graduating from the Under-20 side, had another fine outing for the Warriors until an ankle injury forced him off in the 74th minute after he had landed awkwardly off an aerial challenge with two Lone Star defenders.

The talented striker, voted South African Premiership Rookie of the Year last season, had always shown that he would be a key figure in the Warriors since his emergence on to the senior national team stage.

Last night, the Kaizer Chiefs striker finally opened his account for the Warriors when he struck in the 30th minute to give Zimbabwe a lead they thoroughly deserved before the Liberians found an equaliser, albeit in controversial circumstances via the efforts of Sekou Oliseh in the 68th minute.

On a night on which Benin referee Koffi Cojia and his assistants connived to frustrate the visitors, the Warriors were rightfully left to feel aggrieved by the poor match officiating.

A host of missed chances and brilliant goalkeeping by Liberian goalkeeper Sunday Seah also helped to deny caretaker coach Norman Mapeza a winning start.

Mapeza was, nonetheless, impressed by the result and the Warriors showing which he described as "fantastic".

"Fantastic result, fantastic performance, we could have won this match, but it's unfortunate we also missed a number of good chances but I think we did the nation proud today.

"I cannot say much about the refereeing because it was simply pathetic; this is the kind of officiating that is killing African football.

"We were here for a positive result which was either a draw or a win and I am happy that that we got one of them.

"I am really proud of these guys and proud of my technical team because of the fantastic way we have worked together for this result," Mapeza said.

Heavy rains that pounded Monrovia on the eve of the match meant that the pitch at the packed 35 000 seater SDK Complex was slippery and muddy.

But the Warriors quickly adjusted to the conditions on the pitch and soon took control of the game and sent warning shots of their intentions in the eighth minute when Musona, lurking nearby, capitalised on a poor clearance by midfielder David GBemie.

The Kaizer Chiefs forward however, drove his left footer just wide.

Liberia's centre backs always looked nervy in their clearances and 22 minutes later, Musona got it right finding his range with a fine angled shot after latching onto yet another half clearance by George Baysah.

It all started on the left channel where Onismor Bhasera had an exchange of passes with Ashley Rambanapasi and Justice Majabvi before the later swung the tide of attack on the right.

Baysah appeared to be going for a routine clearance, he somehow miscued his effort and Musona gladly capitalised.

Musona then appeared to drift just wide of the goal, jinked past one more marker before drilling an angled shot which United States-based Lone Star goalkeeper Seah could do little to stop.

Yet the hosts could have surged ahead in the 13th minute when GBemie rose unchallenged in the box to connect with a free-kick from the right, but the unattached former Bolton Wanderers midfielder just headed wide of Arubi's goal.

The Warriors had survived their first major scare from the hosts.

In the 15th minute, Musona got to the end of a Bhasera free-kick but he miscued his effort with the goalkeeper beaten.

The former Under-20 skipper then shook his head in disbelief when Seah twice denied him from point blank efforts in the second period.

But there were question marks about the Liberian goal which was credited to Oliseh.

Arubi appeared to have easily dealt with a looping cross from the right, but Oliseh came challenging and seemed to use his elbow to push the ball from the grasp of the Warriors goalkeeper and over the line.

The referee ignored calls for infringement from the Warriors and instead pointed to the centre and the Lone Star heaved a sigh of relief at avoiding the blushes of beginning the campaign with a defeat.

Mapeza kept faith with the team that started the friendly match against Motor Action last Thursday with Edward Sadomba partnering Musona in attack while Tafadzwa Rusike, Clemence Matawu, Rambanapasi and Majabvi made up the midfield.

Noel Kaseke, who plies his trade in Cyprus, had an outstanding game on the right, Method Mwanjali, Thomas Sweswe and Bhasera provided the defensive shield for Arubi.

The Liberians, most of whose attacks were orchestrated by SuperSport United winger Anthony Laffor and Oliseh, were forced to rely on counter attacks and looked dangerous from set pieces and each time they came probing, they presented problems for the Warriors.

But for much of the game, they were on the back foot and with more precision and some fair officiating, it should have been a winning start for this new class of Warriors.

Teams:

Liberia: S. Seah, S. Grimes, E. Wennah, G. Baysah, J. Dixon, D. GBemie (T. Lewis 46th minute), S. Oliseh, S. Mennoh, A. Laffor, I. Pupo (P. Kollie 85th minute), P. Doeplah (J. Lomell 60th minute) .

Zimbabwe: W. Arubi, N. Kaseke, O. Bhasera, T. Sweswe, M. Mwanjali, A. Rambanapasi (L. Mtizwa 79th minute), C. Matawu (B. Marere 86th minute), J. Majabvi, E. Sadomba, K. Musona (N. Mushekwi 74th minute), T. Rusike

Group A Results

At Paynesville yesterday

Liberia 1(Oliseh 68) Zimbabwe 1 Musona 30)

Saturday

At Praia

Cape Verde Islands 1 (Fernando Varela 44) Mali 0

P W D L F A Pts

Cape Verde 1 1 0 0 1 0 3

Liberia 1 0 1 0 1 1 1

Zimbabwe 1 0 1 0 1 1 1

Mali 1 0 0 1 0 1 0

RESULTS AT A GLANCE

International Friendly, Barbourfields

Zimbabwe Under-23 2, South Africa Under-23 4

Premier Soccer League

Douglas Warriors 0, Highlanders 1

FC Victoria 0, CAPS United 1

Bantu Rovers 0, Monomotapa 0

Eagles 0, Shooting Stars 0

Liberia (0) 1 Zimbabwe (1) 1 Knowledge