JOHANNESBURG Zimbabwe have all but qualified for the next round of the COSAFA under 20 Youth championships, after beating Lesotho 3-1 in their second and last group match, played at the Eldorado Park Tuesday. Patrick Kaunda scored the hat-trick that saw the Young Warriors atone for their disappointing 2-2 draw with Botswana in the opening match Sunday, and now await the result between Lesotho and Botswana Friday to be sure of progressing to the semi-finals.
Botswana need to beat Lesotho by more than three goals to progress, while Lesotho need to win by more than 5 clear goals to progress.
The Young Warriors threatened the Lesotho goal as early as the first minute, but Kaunda skied his effort after having been set up by Kevin Sibanda.
However, the Zimbabweans continued to put their opponents territory under siege and their efforts paid dividends in the 20th minute, when Kaunda capitalized on a defensive error by Lesotho leftback, Tumelo Bereng to drive home the first goal.
Bereng gifted Kaunda the second goal, when he made the same mistake and the Zimbabwean striker poked in from inside the box in the 30th minute.
However, the Young Warriors went into a slumber and allowed Lesotho to pull one back through Lehlomela Ramabele, whose speculative shot was helped over the goal-line by Zimbabwean goalkeeper, Liberty Chirava.
Kaunda scored rapped matters in the 81st minute, when his cheeky lob from about 20 meters out eluded Lesotho goalkeeper, Basia Makepe for the third goal.
The Warriors then held on for the win, which might see them come face-to-face with South Africa, who are favoured to win group A Wednesday.
Post published in: Football