Friday, November 1, 2024

Cosafa U20 Day 2 Wrap: Five star for Mozambique, Angola as Malawi beat South Africa

A total of 14 goals were scored on Day 2 of the TotalEnergies U20 AFCON Egypt 2023 COSAFA Qualifiers, as the quest for a place in next year’s continental showpiece continues in Eswatini.

Action at the Mavuso stadium produced 11 goals as Angola cruised past Lesotho 5-0 before Mozambique put Seychelles to the sword with a 5-1 victory.

The Somhlolo Stadium had very evenly balanced fixtures that were won by small margins as Malawi overcame South Africa 2-0 before Comoros caused the first upset of the tournament with a 1-0 victory over Namibia.

For the first match at Somhlolo, Amajita started off the better side with their traditional build up play in the opening minutes to keep their opponents starved of possession.

The deadlock was almost broken in the 18th minute when Gontse Manya fired a grass-cutting shot which went narrowly wide off target.

However, it was a lapse of concentration by Amajita that saw Malawi get the opener in the 25th minute after a powerful header by Vincent Mkandawire from a corner rebounded off the keeper for the lanky striker to fire home and give his side the lead.

Amajita kept probing with their good interchange of passes in the middle of the park, but the resolute defense of the Young Flames kept them at bay.

Manya almost levelled matters for South Africa in the 36th minute after an ambitious strike from outside the box was parried away to safety by the alert Austin Chirambo.


Coming into the second half, the Young Flames looked to quickly double the lead and were unlucky to be denied after Chikumbutso Salima found himself in a good scoring position, but his shot was saved by Aden Dreyer.

Mduduzi Tshabalala, who was a constant threat in the opening half almost levelled matters in the 52nd minute with a good strike after beating his man before sending a fierce strike that went inches over the bar. The skillful forward was back in action a minute later after good interchange play, but his effort was fisted out of danger by Chirambo.

The South Africans continued to press for the equalizer, adding more numbers upfront which resulted in the Young Flames capitalizing on this when a quick counter in the 66th minute concluded with a cross by Salima which was met by captain Chifundo Mphasi, who made no mistake in firing home from close range to make it 2-0.

The lead could have been reduced a minute later after a penalty was awarded for a handball in the box for Tshabalala’s spot kick to be denied by Chirambo who went on to be named man of the match.

Substitute Mohau Kota, who added the much-needed fire power almost pulled one back for Amajita after doing well to find space in a crowded box but was unfortunate to see his strike go wide in the 75th minute.

Another glorious opportunity fell in the way of Puso Dithejane in the 85th minute, who was unlucky not to get a goal after pulling his shot inches wide off target as the Young Flames held on to a hard fought 2-0 victory that sees them top group C.

Meanwhile at the Mavuso Stadium, Angola comfortably cruised to a 5-0 victory over a hapless Lesotho in the opening match of group B.

Two quick succession goals in the 27th and 28th minute by Diogenes Inacio and Isaac Vidal saw Angola take a firm grip on the match to put Lesotho on the backfoot.

The quick lead saw Lesotho losing concentration and conceding another two in the 41st and 42nd minute thanks to another goal by Inacio which was followed by a Danilson Makokisa strike to make it 4-0 before the break.

Dikwena started off the second half with great determination in search of a confidence boosting goal but found a very well-structured Angolan defense who kept their shape throughout the match.

Another lapse of concentration by the Lesotho defense saw them conceding an unnecessary foul in the 80th minute for Antonio Lopes to comfortably convert from the spot to make it 5-0 to Angola and top the group.

The Comoros caused the first major upset of the competition with a narrow 1-0 victory over Namibia in the final fixture at Somhlolo.

As expected, it was the 2020 silver medalists who had the lion’s share of possession in the opening half as Comoros fought off the continuous attacks.

The islanders looked dangerous at times when going forward, with the trio of Nawir Maoulida, Yakine Said and Andilidine Baco combining well in transitional play.

Coming into the second stanza, Comoros looked the better side and almost broke the deadlock when Said almost found the roof of the net from close range with the keeper well beaten after a good interchange of passes in the box.

The Islanders eventually did the unthinkable when Glenn Younousse found the back of the net with a well taken strike to the surprise of their opponents.

Defending champions, Mozambique put out a strong statement at the Mavuso Stadium with a 5-0 drubbing of Seychelles in their opening match of their title defense.

The reigning champions took hold of the game as expected with a series of attacks that pinned the islanders in their own half.

The deadlock was eventually broken by Antonio Sumbane who capitalized on the keeper being off his line with a well taken strike in the 14th minute to make it 1-0 before the break.

The Islanders were caught napping at the start of the second half as a goal by Chamito Alfandega doubled the scoreline before Denio Munhave put the game beyond reach with a well taken strike in the 55th minute. 

The champions capitalized on the low morale of Seychelles as Djwa Ramos found a brace towards the end of the match to make it 5-0 to the champions in an avalanche of goals at Mavuso stadium.

SATURDAY’S RESULTS

Angola 5 (Diogenes Inacio 27’, 41’, Isaac Vidal 28’, Denilson Makokisa 42’, Antonio Lopes 80’) Lesotho 0 | Mavuso Stadium

South Africa 0 Malawi 2 (Vincent Mkandawire 25’, Chifundo Mphasi 66’) | Somhlolo Stadium.

Namibia 0 Comoros 1 (Samuel Betombo 77’) | Somhlolo Stadium

Mozambique 5 (Antonio Sumbane 14’, Chamito Alfandega 46’, Denio Munhave 55’, Djwa Ramos 79’ 80’) Seychelles (0) | Mavuso Stadium

[Cosafa]

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