It might not have been pretty, but then, who cared really because this wasn't about beauty but simply accomplishing a mission and the Warriors stood up to be counted when it mattered most at the National Sports Stadium yesterday.

Given what had happened in the countdown to this game, the defeat against Guinea, the draw in Maputo and all the off-the-field distractions, only a fool would have expected a stylish or beautiful performance from the Warriors.

Add to that the intensity of the pressure that comes with playing at home, starting the game on the backfoot because of the loss in Burundi and the challenge of playing on a rugged surface that looked like an abandoned horse racing track, style really would have been a bonus. The result was everything.

And, for getting it right, the Warriors deserve an Oscar for their heroic show yesterday. At times, especially in the second half, it was hard to watch as Burundi threw men forward in numbers and exploited the gaps created by the expulsion of Willard Katsande as the Warriors tired and appeared to panic under pressure.

But the defence kept its shape well, Esrom Nyandoro was outstanding in shepherding his rearguard, playing one of his best games for his country while big

Carrington Nyadombo provided a useful ally in the heart of the defence.

Such was their impact that it was hard to notice that the man employed to provide cover for them in midfield, Tinashe Nengomasha, was having a stinker of a game in midfield.

But this wasn't a day to pick out outstanding individuals or those who didn't perform for their country.

This was a day when all that mattered was what the team did at the end and what will be remembered is what matters - that the Warriors kept their 2013 Nations Cup hopes alive.

Knowledge Musona scored the priceless goal, taking his tally to two in two games in this campaign, as the Smiling Assassin once again underlined his importance to this team.

The goal, itself, was a beauty.

Khama Billiat charged down the left channel and, when he got to the byline, he cut it back, squeezing it between the defender's legs, and straight into the path of Musona.

The way Billiat picked Musona you would have thought he had extra eyes stitched behind his head. Musona was quick to pounce, once he picked his spot, and his finishing was top drawer.

Given what had happened with him in the week leading to this game, the controversy generated by his reported meeting with Henrietta Rushwaya, it's remarkable that

Musona didn't cry after scoring.

Like a true professional, he was quickly dumping the celebrations, ordering his teammates to retrieve the ball from the nets to continue with the assignment, knowing that a second goal would provide the insurance needed.

It was all business-like and there was no questioning the focus, no doubting the commitment and, in that moment, the Warriors crystalised the positivity of their approach to this mission.

Musona, once again, will grab the headlines for getting the priceless goal that made all the difference and changed the mood of the post-mortem from negative to positive.

That he played this match on the edge, carrying an injury that had threatened his appearance yesterday, demonstrated his loyalty to his motherland. In the end, he couldn't even last the game, asking his coach, Rahman Gumbo, to pull him out after coming off the worst in a tussle for possession.

But skipper, Tapiwa Kapini, was outstanding too, not only with the way he commanded his area, but also the positive spirit he created with his constant engagement with the crowd.

He also made a big save, one for the archives, when he dived full stretch to make a stunning mid-air connection with the a flying thunderbolt late in the game.

For leadership, Kapini deserves full marks. Gumbo has come under intense criticism in recent weeks as his Warriors misfired and he juggled with unpopular and ineffective options like Terrence Mandaza.

But yesterday the coach got his starting XI right and his decision to throw in the promising Rodwell Chinyengetere in attack was as brave as it was inspired. The young Hwange captain has been outstanding this season and reaped huge benefits for playing on the continent this year in the Caf Confederation Cup.

And he should have been rewarded with a penalty, after a storming run into the box was illegally upended, but the Gabonese referee, who appeared to be playing for Burundi, missed it.

Given that Chinyengetere went down, it was either a penalty or a dive, which was punishable by a yellow card, and that neither was given, demonstrated the shocking primitive shortcomings of the referee.

The refreshment that came from Chinyengetere's solid performance wasn't trapped in what he did for the team's cause yesterday, but what it promises for the future.

That the Warriors have been too reliant on Musona for goals isn't in question and that we have been waiting for someone to rise and give him a helping hand hasn't been a secret.

It's too early to suggest that we have found that man in Chinyengetere because he also didn't score yesterday.

But he brought a lot of promise and we can only look to the future with a lot of hope. And that is where the magical Denver Mukamba is key.

He came in again as a substitute and you have to salute Rahman for the way he has handled this boy's transition into becoming a fully-fledged Warrior.

Playing on the flank, where the width gives him the freedom he needs to produce his magic, Mukamba made a big impact. His best moment came when he found possession on the right, sold the defender the Mother of all Dummies to send him spinning in an artificial defensive move, leaving himself with acres of space.

He might have failed to score from that angle, but it's such magic that has been missing from our national team and, given his age, we can be forgiven for dreaming of greatness.

Something also stood out yesterday - the team spirit. When Musona scored, they all remembered their coach, what he has gone through in the past three weeks, and they seemed to dedicate the goal to Rahman.

Questions will always stalk Rahman's game reading and when Willard Katsande was sent off for a silly headbutt, he should have responded, especially given that Nengomasha was off colour.

He didn't and that had a huge bearing in the way we played second fiddle for the bigger part of the second half. That he brought in Takesure Chinyama, to keep himself with two out and out forwards, when he was a man short, was surprising and that it didn't work was predictable.

But it's easy to review a game when you have won and what matters, when all is said and done, is that his team won yesterday.

His body language was also good yesterday, involving himself more into his team's play, and he deserves credit for plotting this win. Of course, some will say

Burundi is a lightweight and they were handicapped by the absence of their best player, defender Valery Nahayo.

But the Central African Republic showed us this weekend, when they beat Egypt in Cairo, that small teams have vanished from the continent.

This was a big win for Zimbabwe, as huge as they come, and thank you Rahman Gumbo for this beautiful Father's Day present.

It feels different, doesn't it? Feels real, and the future, surely, can't be gloomy.