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Zimbabwe: Chitsumba, Lunga, Garanaga, Takwara, Murwira, Hachiro, Munetsi, Rinomhota, Mapfumo, Chirewa, Musona.
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South Africa Subs: Mobbie, Mofokeng, Adams, Foster, Tau, Maswanganyi, Aubaas, Mothwa, Msimango, Sibisi, Goss.
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Lineups for the game are as follows: South Africa: Williams, Modiba, Mvala, Ngezana, Mudau, Sithole, Mokoena, Zwane, Mokwana, Rayners, Appollis.
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South Africa played out to a 1-1 draw against Nigeria in their last game. Zimbabwe fell to a shock 2-0 loss to Lesotho in their last game.
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Zimbabwe are third and last in the group with two points after three games. They have drawn two and lost one game so far. A win today can boost their World Cup qualification campaign.
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Bafana Bafana are fourth in Group C with 4 points after three games. They have won one, drew one and lost one game so far. A win today will put Hugo Broos’ men in a strong position in these qualifiers.
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Hello and welcome to our coverage of Africa Group C World Cup qualifiers as South Africa host Zimbabwe at the Free State Stadium.
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GOAL! Bafana Bafana take an early lead via Rayners. SA 1-0 Zimbabwe. He gets his composure right and hits a low shot beyond the Zimbabwe keeper.
4′
GOAL! ZIMBABWE! CHIREWA! Zimbabwe equalize quickly via Chirewa who is found via a through ball and rolls the ball beyond Williams. SA 1-1 Zimbabwe.
6′
Mokwana unleashes a low shot which is easily saved by Chitsumba in goal for Zimbabwe.
9′
Bafana Bafana have so far had 80% possession and Zimbabwe 20%.
12′
Mokwana wins a corner for SA. Mokoena takes it and the Zimbabwe defence clear it for another corner from the other side.
15′
Bafana Bafana win a free-kick in a good area as Zwane is brought down. Mokoena fires in and it comes to nothing.
18′
Mokwana marches forward for South Africa but he is denied space and forced to play the ball back again.
19′
Chance! Zwane fires in a powerful shot, forcing a parried save by Chitsumba.
22′
We had goals in the opening few minutes but since then both teams have been defensively alert and able to deny the other space.
25′
Mudau takes a throw in for Bafana Bafana. Hachiro then walks him out of play, winning a goal kick for Zimbabwe.
28′
Mokoena falls down in an attempt to win a free-kick in a scoring position. The ref waves play on as Zimbabwe counter.
31′
Chitsumba easily picks out a forward cross and deals with a tame threat from Bafana Bafana.
34′
Mvala does some defensive cleaning up for Bafana Bafana. Zimbabwe fail to do much from their resulting throw in as the ball ends up comfortably in the hands of Williams.
37′
Chance! Chirewa gets on the end of a through ball, forcing a save from Williams. Zimbabwe get a corner which South Africa deal with.
39′
Offside! Rayners puts the ball in the net for Bafana Bafana but it wont count as he was offside.
42′
Mokoena takes a corner for Bafana Bafana. The home side fails to do much with it as Zimbabwe get a goal kick which Chitsumba plays short.
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+1 Half Time: South Africa 1-1 Zimbabwe. It was an entertaining first five minutes as both teams scored in that time. Since then, they have managed to deny the other clear-cut chances with strategic defending.
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There will be one minute of first half stoppage time.
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The second half is underway.
49′
Both teams opted to make a change apiece at the break. SA brought on Morena for Mokwana. Zimbabwe brought on Msendami for Mapfumo.
52′
Yellow! Mokoena is booked for a cynical foul.
55′
GOAL! SA! MORENA! A low cross finds itself to Morena who taps into the net from close range. SA 2-1 Zimbabwe.
58′
Mudau looks to cut through the Zimbabwe defence but is stopped in his tracks.
61′
Appollis is penalized for a foul. A Bafana Bafana attack ends as Takwara whips the ball back into the SA half.
64′
Sithole finds himself with the ball after a SA corner is lifted over. He skies the ball into the stands.
67′
Rayners floats in a corner. It looked promising for SA but Takwara just about gets the ball out of play. Zimbabwe deal with the follow-up corner.
70′
South Africa are now firmly in control of the game as Zimbabwe are struggling to probe and create chances.
73′
Williams punches the ball away following a Zimbabwe corner.
76′
GOAL! SA! MORENA! Morena is picked out with a through ball on a breakaway and slots home. SA 3-1 Zimbabwe.
79′
Chitsumba easily catches a forward lob in goal for Zimbabwe and throws the ball, looking to create a counter attacking chance for his team.
82′
Chance! Appollis finds himself on the receiving end of a through ball and sends his shot straight into the hands of the Zimbabwe keeper.
85′
Williams and Munetsi receive treatment after they clashed with each other.
88′
Bafana Bafana play out the ball from the back and it goes to Williams. They are now looking to see out the clock.
90′
+3 Full Time: SA 3-1 Zimbabwe. It’s a valuable win for South Africa who will now be optimistic about their chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. It’s back to the drawing board for Zimbabwe who were let down by too many defensive mistakes tonight.
90′
There will be three minutes of second half stoppage time.
Credit: Source link
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Zim Subs: Bernard, Habebe, Zumura, Kadewere, Phuti, Msendami, Mapisa, Galloway, Maroodza, Rushesha, Maswanhise, Machope.