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    HomeNewsDelightfully dazzling performance . . .as Warriors murder Chipolopolo

    Delightfully dazzling performance . . .as Warriors murder Chipolopolo

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    By Goodwill Zunidza

    Zimbabwe (2) 2
    Zambia. (0) 0

    Watch: Match Highlights

    Jairos Tapera might not be a bad choice after all!

    The much underated Manica Diamonds mentor, appointed to his job under a cloud last month, proved his worth at the best of opportunities after his well-knit terror machine bamboozled Zambezi rivals Zambia in a fiery first half which was enough to hand Zimbabwe passage to the knock out stage.

    Don’t blame the Zambian coach. Neither Germany or Brazil would have won against the Warriors today.

    Tapera’s artistry in building a cohesive unit from almost nothing could just help salvage the Zifa Normalization Committee’s battered reputation especially if the Warriors proceed to win the competition.

    Faults were difficult to detect in Tapera’s side with all players performing as if in cue, captain Godknows Murwira marshalling the defence while Juan Mutudza and Takunda Benhura combined beautifully in midfield.

    The spark was upfront where unheralded left winger Tinotenda Meke was menacing throughout his shift and completely unmarkable just as dangerman Michael Tapera, who operates as a right winger, continued with his forceful forays from the first game against Comoros from which he got his first goal.

    Tapera Jnr again opened the scoresheet with a brilliant individual goal in the 7th minute.

    The Manica Diamonds hero picked up a loose ball on his right flank, lost his first marker with a silky weave before side-swiping another defender and charging towards the box where he unleashed a whistling grass cutter that gave no chance to the goalkeeper.

    Chipolopolo showed no signs of coming back and were almost two-down a few minutes when Meke carved out space for himself on the left and released a pile-drive that the keeper failed to handle cleanly with no Zimbabwean in sight to strike the rebound.

    The second goal inevitably arrived in the 43rd minute after Farai Banda’s curling cross from the left was flashed home by Takunda Benhura’s close-range header.

    Although Zambia were rocked by the loss of midfield anchor Chitoshi Chingwa through injury in the 28th min and expulsion of defender Kanguluma in the 31st minute, they will never cite the double trouble as cause for their upset.

    It was Zambia’s second 0-2 defeat in the tournament after their first group game against Kenya and they now await the trip back home after fulfilling the last time against Comoros.

    Zimbabwe are on course for the semi-final either as group winners if they avoid a loss to Kenya or as the best-placed runner-up with six points.

    Tapera Snr did not change the formation in the second half as the Warriors continued on the hunt and all his substitutions were merely tactical as he sought go give other players such as Sheffield Wednesday forward joey Phuthi, Tatenda Tavengwa (Venda Stars) and Never Rauzhi (Bulawayo Chiefs) a chance and he benhed Tapera, Meke and Benhura who had already justified their presence.

    Kenya is up next and although it is only of academic importance, Tapera will deal himself a huge favour by winning.

    New Ziana

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