COSAFA Final: Zambia 1-3 Zimbabwe - As It Happened

by Austin Ditlhobolo

Sunday Jul 09, 2017. 15:04

Hello and welcome to the live commentary of the 2017 COSAFA Cup final between Zambia and Zimbabwe at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg, South Africa on Sunday.

Line ups:

Zambia XI: Chibwe, Phiri, Chama, Chungu, Shonga, Malama, Katiba, Chirwa, Mulenga, Shamujomba, Mwila.

Zimbabwe XI: Chigova, Mushure, Chipeta, Chawapiwa, Tigere, Takwara, Karuru, Homora, Mutizwa, Moyo, Chakoroma.

Commentary:

Congratulations to Zimbabwe, who are the 2017 COSAFA Cup champions - winning the trophy for a record fifth time.

FULL-TIME: Zambia 1-3 Zimbabwe.

90' - The fourth official has added three minutes.

85' - Five minutes left for Zambia to snatch two late goals to ensure that the game goes into extra-time.

81' - Zimbabwe sub: Katsvairo IN, Chawapiwa OUT.

80' - Zambia keeper Chibwe pushes the ball away as Zimbabwe look to extend their lead from a corner-kick in the closing stages of the match.

75' - Zambia are attacking in numbers, but Zimbabwe are looking dangerous on the counter-attack. End-to-end stuff here in Rustenburg.

70' - Zambia sub: Ngwenya IN, Phiri OUT.

67' - GOAL! Zambia 1-3 Zimbabwe. Mushure, who is left-footed, fires home with his weaker from just inside the Zambia box.

65' Zambia sub: Muchindu IN, Chungu OUT.

60' - Zimbabwe are leading 2-1 as we reach the hour-mark here in Rustenburg.

55' - GOAL! Zambia 1-2 Zimbabwe. Mutizwa hits the upright with a header and Chawapiwa scores from the rebound to restore his side's lead.

50' - GREAT SAVE! Zambia keeper Chibwe makes a great save to deny Zambia striker Mutizwa from a one-on-one situation following Mulenga's mistake in the middle of the park.

46' - The second-half is underway.

HALF-TIME: Zambia 1-1 Zimbabwe.

45' - The fourth official has added two minutes.

40' - Chipeta's free-kick from a promising area is blocked inside the Zambia box as Zimbabwe look to respond with a goal.

39' - GOAL! Zambia 1-1 Zimbabwe. Mundia makes an immediate impact as he heads home from Phiri's cross.

38' - Zambia sub: Mundia IN, Katiba OUT.

35' - The momentum is with Zimbabwe as Zambia keeper Chibwe makes a good save to deny Mutizwa, before Mushure's free-kick goes just over the crossbar.

30' - Zimbabwe are still leading 1-0 as we reach the half-hour mark here in Rustenburg.

25' - CHANCE! Mwila has a chance to restore parity for Zambia, but the forward fails to connect with a cross from the left - with Zimbabwe keeper Chigova rooted to the ground.

22' GOAL! Zambia 0-1 Zimbabwe. Mutizwa heads home from close range after Zambia keeper Chibwe fails to handle the ball.

20' - Zambia and Zimbabwe (along with South Africa) have won the COSAFA Cup trophy four times and today's winner will become the most successful country with five titles.

15' - Zambia keeper Chibwe is called into action for the first time this afternoon and he gathers Zimbabwe right-back Chipeta's cross from the right with ease.

10' - GREAT SAVE! Zambia combine nicely on the edge of the Zimbabwe box and Chirwa forces goalkeeper Chigova into a great finger-tipping save.

5' - Early free-kick for Zambia and Shonga fires wide of the target from the set-piece.

1' - The match is underway.