LOST THE LOTTERY

WARRIORS BOW OUT

By CaptainRT

In the 86th minute a flowing move involving Darikwa,a brilliant Billiat pass,a Musona dummy and a powerful shot from the edge of the box by Tino Kadewere which whistled just over the bar,signaled that lady lucky was in a mean mood.Maybe we had rode our like one too many times,having been let off the fangs when Chipezeze smothered a spot kick on the 40th minute mark from Chipololo.

Zambia held their nerve in the shootout while the Warriors dithered and stumbled,literally.Khama had his effort from 12 yards saved while Admiral Muskwe skied his.Darikwa and Nakamba converted theirs while Chipezeze could only clutch thin air as the Zambians were emphatic.4-2 it ended after the lottery.

The Cosafa defending champions had started the game with intent as they probed from the word go.Chawapihwa,Musona and on occasions Kamusoko took turns to mesmerize the Zambian defence.Musona had a penalty call denied after skinning a Chipololo fellow on the right before charging into the box,he was stopped,he clutched his ankle and the official pointed to the corner flag,the warriors would have preferred it to be at the spot.A number of forays resulted in a barrage of corners but alas we never turned the corner.The Zambians remained dogged in their approach even after the missed penalty.In the first as they were in the second they would raid with telling swiftnes and force some smart saves from the man of the match Elvis Chipezeze.It was third time luck for the Zambians as they bagged the win,the bragging rights and foiled the warriors charge towards history.

Admiral Muskwe tightly monitored

Coach Rahman Gumbo conceded defeat,remarking "We wanted to win the tournament but even though we have failed to do so,we have managed to try out new combinations,rotate our players and give some fringe players game time"

The Warriors meet Lesotho in the third and fourth playoff on Friday in which only 15 players will be available as the rest of the warriors will fly to Nigeria for a friendly that will be played on the 8th of June ironically the day of the cosafa tournament. NEXTLEVEL SPORTS TV (South Beach Garden Court,Durban)