Malawi U-20 through to Cosafa semi-finals
Malawi under 20 national soccer team became the first team to qualify for the semifinals of the 2011 Cosafa Metropolitan youth championship with a hard fought 3 – 2 victory over Lesotho at the University of Botswana stadium.
This means the junior Flames have finished top of group B which had three teams. Seychelles and Lesotho have been eliminated from the competiton.
Malawi beat Seychelles 2 – 0 in their opening match of the campaign and were on top of proceedings in that encounter but a date against Lesotho was a different ball game. Lesotho were in top gear and controlled the match as Malawi struggled to settle their nerves.
It took Malawi close to 30 minutes to have a fair share of possession and took the lead in the 34th minute through man of the match Isaac Maluwa.
He unleashed a scorcher of a shot that caught Lesotho goalkeeper Mereka Matebele off guard.
Lesotho proved good on attack and their fast paced football led by Lebajoa Mosehlenyana.
Kaputa made changes in defence,pulling out Andrew Banda for Peter Mselema as Lesotho pilled more pressure on the junior Flames.
Tony Chitsulo made Malawi’s lead a bit comfortable in the 40th minute when his powerful shot proved too hot to handle for Lesotho keeper Matebele again.
At the break Malawi led 2 – 0 and Isaac Maluwa was on target again soon after the break with his second of the game and third for Malawi. But Lesotho continued to push hard and reduced the arrears minutes later through Mosehlenyana.
Kaputa brought in Patience Kalumo and Martin Masoatheka to make sure of qualification as Lesotho continued to dictate events.
A soft penalty was awarded to Lesotho foul a foul by Kondwani Lufeyo and on the spot,Mosehlenyama made no mistake.
Coach John Kaputa was happy with his team’s qualification and thanked his charges for putting up a spirited performance.
“It was a difficult match but the boys took on the challenge like soldiers and we are happy to qualify,” he told Nyasa Times after the game.
He says the focus now is on the semifinal clash with the winner of group D which has Angola,Madagascar,Namibia and Zimbabwe at Molepolole stadium on thursday 08/12/11.
GROUP B |
||||||||
| Team |
P |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
GD |
Pts |
| Malawi |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
2 |
3 |
6 |
| Lesotho |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
-1 |
0 |
| Seychelles |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
-2 |
0 |
