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Zambian side Chiporopolo’s hopes of retaining the COSAFA Cup were dashed as they lost 2-0 to arch-rivals Zimbabwe in their penultimate Group B match on Nelson Mandela Day on Sunday.
Zambia scored two goals in the opening 43 minutes and received a second straight red card at the COSAFA Cup, bringing an end to their unprecedented quest for a third consecutive regional title and a record eighth.
This was Chiporo Polo’s second consecutive 0-2 defeat in Group B, with Kenya defeating them in their opening match on June 26.
Zambia finished bottom of Group B with zero points, while Comoros and Kenya were tied on three points, while six-time champions Zimbabwe advanced to the semi-finals with a maximum of six points, with one game left.
Comoros beat Kenya 2-0 in the lunchtime kick-off.
Zimbabwe launched a fierce attack on the Zambian base defense, especially troubling young right-back Mathews Banda, who crafted one of his two goals.
Michael Tapera scored an early candidate for goal of the tournament, dribbling from the left side of the Zimbabwean half, dribbling alone past three Zambian defenders before firing home from a tight angle into the goal of Charles Kalumba.
Elsewhere, Tinotenda Meke continued to trouble Zambia on the flank before Zimbabwe scored their second goal.
During this period, Zambia suffered two setbacks, the first of which was when defender Chitoshi Chinga was injured and left the field in the 24th minute, replaced by Mathews Chabala.
Defender Killian Kanguluma then left the field with two unnecessary yellow cards in the 24th and 32nd minutes.
Zimbabwe seized the opportunity and used their slight numerical advantage to seal the victory with a header from Takunda Benhura in the 43rd minute.
Sadly, Chipolopolo continued to perform in a lacklustre second half, their worst performance in the COSAFA Cup preliminaries.
Chipolopolo will face a face-saving task when they take on Comoros in their final Group B match on July 2.
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