Munyaradzi Chiwara scored a brace as Zimbabwe beat the Young Zebras of Botswana 4-0 in the Orange African Under-20 Championship first leg qualifier at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday.
Edmore Tsoro and Highlanders Knox Mutizwa, who received a last-minute call up into the team, weighed in with a goal each to earn Zimbabwe a deserved victory in a virtually empty stadium.
Chiwara had earlier missed a glorious opportunity in the 26th minute when he was set up by Kevin Moyo but his effort went wide with only Botswana goalkeeper Neo Kenalemang to beat.
Chiwara made up for his earlier misfiring past Kenalemang in the 37th minute after he was set up by impressive Mutizwa following a good interchange of passes with Moyo.
Botswana tried to get an equaliser but found the Zimbabwe defence on guard. Zimbabwe could have gone two up in the 50th minute when Willard Kalongonda fired a stinger which went wide.
Mutizwa was in the thick of things in the 51st minute coming up with a pin-point cross that was directed home. The Young Warriors kept on piling pressure which resulted in Buyani Kgomotso bringing down Mutizwa in the box in the 65th minute.
Mozambican referee Samuel Chirinda pointed to the spot which Chiwara converted for his second of the afternoon. With the game coming to an end Zimbabwe penetrated the Botswana defence with Kudakwashe Mahachi setting up Mutizwa who made no mistake ensuring that Zimbabwe got their fourth goal in the 96th minute.
