COSAFA Women’s Championship: Gordon stars as Banyana Banyana book date with Zimbabwe in final

Goalkeeper Casey Gordon provided an assist then saved a spot-kick as South Africa’s Banyana Banyana overpowered Zimbabwe’s Mighty Warriors 4-2 on post-match penalties to qualify for the COSAFA Women’s Championship final on Friday.

Desiree Ellis’ girls will now date Namibia in the final on Sunday at the same Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane where Gordon created the opener for the hosts in regulation time which ended 1-1.

Thereafter, the JVW FC custodian saved Zimbabwe’s Macgirl Sipini spot-kick before Nokukhanya Ndlovu’s attempt bounced off the post, while South Africa converted all their four attempts by Majiya Nthabiseng, Antonia Maponya, Khutso Pila and Zoe October. The Mighty Warriors only converted two attempts.

Banyana Banyana had come from behind to force the game into a one-all draw against the Mighty Warriors with both goals coming in the first half, paving the way for the post-match penalties.

Forward Ethel Chinyerere put Zimbabwe ahead against the run of play in the 10^th minute in a blistering counterattack.

The Mighty Warriors cleared their lines under pressure before picking Chinyere wide on the left wing in a counter attack. The striker raced then cut inside past a defender with her left before firing a curling effort with her right to the far-post pocket of the net. The flight of the ball overpowered Gordon by its sheer height and swerve.

How Banyana Banyana responded after going down

In a response, South African poured forward seeking for an equalizer which nearly came a few minutes later. However, Nonhlahla Mthandi, unmarked in the box after meeting a cross from the left, sent a low volley wide of the gaping goal mouth.

With eight minutes to the break, there was no denying Banyana Banyana a comeback which came from an unusual source, Gordon. The keeper sent a long goal-kick forward, bouncing past unsuspecting Zimbabwean defenders Tumbare Egness and Fiona Kabera, leaving one of the latter tumbling down head-first after a failed recovery run.

Running in between the centre-backs, Nthabiseng from Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies drilled a low effort past the outstretched palms of diving Zimbabwe goalkeeper Cynthia Shonga into the bottom corner of the net for the equaliser.

 

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The opening half ended level on 1-1. When play resumed, there was nothing much to separate the rivals with the Mighty Warriors putting more green shirts behind the ball to protect their equalizing goal.

In an earlier semifinal, substitute Juliana Blou’s 90^th-minute goal earned Namibia a shock 1-0 victory over Zambia to qualify for the final.

The final will take place at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday bringing the curtain down on the 11-member regional women’s football championship which has returned after a year-long absence.