Profligate Zimbabwe pay the price as Algeria snatch draw

Zimbabwe should have been out of sight when Leicester City’s Riyad Mahrez scored an equaliser in 82nd minute to earn the highly rated Algerians a 2-2 draw at de Franceville in Gabon.

That is the measure of the dominance of Zimbabwe in the first half as they bossed the number 5 team in Africa to get into the break with a 2-1 lead.

Having conceded to the African Player of the Year, Mahrez, straight after Khama Billiat’s dazzling run, dip, bribble resulted in a shot first saved by the keeper, Mbohli and from the corner kick, a pop from outside the box, which beat everything except the post.

Mahrez ran off to the other end almost immediately, dropped his shoulder and curled past Tatenda Mukuruva, off the post to take the lead.

A game of inches.

Zimbabwe then lost talisman Knowledge Musona but that didn’t dampen the mood as Kuda Mahachi started a counter attack move and refusing to give up on a ball dropped his shoulder as well, found the far right bottom corner.

And then when Onisimo Bhasera was brought down in the box, and the referee pointed to the spot, we started dreaming.

Nyasha Mushekwu stepped up and scored.

Zimbabwe had chances again for Khama and a few other players but failed to convert.

The Warriors much like in the Cameroon warm-up game dropped off in the second half. Like then they had a second half chance. Substitute Cuthbert Malajila chose to go for goal with a player free for a tap in.

While the replay was on, Mahrez scored on the other end. Captain Willard Katsande was as pissed as 16 million countrymen back home.

After that both teams settled for a draw.

We watched this match at a SuperSport live screening at O’Hagans in Harare.

Man of the match: Tatenda Mukuruva the number of times and intercepted showed why coach Kalisto Pasuwa kept faith with him in spite of an ordinary season. Will feel he could have done better with the second goal but was often the difference.