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(Zimbabwe won 4-2 on penalties to progress to the finals)
MIGHTY WARRIORS goalkeeper Onai Chingawo was the heroine of the day when she saved one penalty in regulation time, and two in the lottery, to help her team qualify for a dream final against champions South Africa in this nail-biting Cosafa Women’s Championship tie at Rufaro.

Zimbabwe were reduced to 10 players in the 45th minute when evergreen rightback Eunice Chibanda was given her marching orders for tripping Tanzania Mwahamisi Shuruwa when she was going for the kill.
Zambian referee Gladys Lengwe then awarded the visitors a penalty and Asha Rashid took it with Chingawo diving to the left and pushing the ball away to send the fans into delirium.
The Mighty Warriors, who were now one person down, fought hard in the second period, containing the polished Tanzanians, and creating the best chances in the match.

But the match went into the dreaded penalty shootout and Tanzania were the first team to take a penalty and Fatuma Jackson duly converted with a well-taken spot kick.
Zimbabwe then converted their first penalty, via centre back Nobuhle Majika.
Tanzania surged ahead again through winger Shuruwa, who sent Chingawo, the opposite side.

Zimbabwe converted their second penalty through substitute Emmaculate Msipa who gave the visitors’ ‘keeper no chance.
Tanzania’s Fatuma Salum then took the Twiga Stars’ third penalty but saw her spot-kick saved by Chingawo who dived to the left.
Mighty Warriors’ substitute Kudakwashe Basopo then thrust the team into the lead for the first time with a well executed third spot kick for the hosts.

Tanzania’s Fatuma Makusanya, who had troubled the hosts the whole afternoon then took the fourth kick for her side, and Aces Youth Academy ‘keeper Chingawo just managed a touch to push it against the post as it rolled away.
It meant Zimbabwe needed to score just one of their remaining two penalty kicks and they made sure with the first one with substitute Erina Jeke firing home the winner.

It was then party time for Zimbabwe who will now meet three-time champions Banyana Banyana in tomorrow’s final.
South Africa cruised to a 5-1 victory against Malawi in an earlier match.
Tanzania and Malawi will square off in the third and fourth-place play-off before the final.

Yesterday’s match was probably the toughest contest in this tournament and pitted two teams that have qualified for the All-Africa Games and it was a match that had everything but goals.
Zimbabwe began the match on a high note and in the opening stages got chances with Ruvimbo Mutyavaviri hitting the bar, while striker Rufaro Machingura wasted two good chances.
The game’s outstanding player, Marjoury Nyaumwe, who had a dream match, also fired wide off a delivery from forward Rudo Neshamba.

But the visitors slowly crept into the game and started matching the Mighty Warriors blow for blow.
In the 25th minute, Tanzania midfielder Ettoe Mlenzi fired from a free-kick but was denied by the post while Zimbabwe had a goal disallowed in the 34th minute when Machingura tapped home a rebound.

Then Zimbabwe suffered the big setback just before the breather when Chibanda, who was troubling the opponents with her passes, was red carded.
The team regrouped in the second period and midfielder Tsitsi Mairosi, who had a quiet afternoon on the flank, was pushed back to fill the void left by the defender as Zimbabwe tried to match their opponents who were now enjoying numerical advantage.

But to their credit the team fought strongly, piling on the pressure, with Mufakose Queens’ midfielder Nyaumwe all over the pitch and in the 53rd minute she was just unfortunate as her shot was saved by the ‘keeper.
She had run to a fine pass from Nokhuthula Ndlovu.

With 10 minutes to go Chingawo was forced to make another save when the Twiga Stars were awarded a free-kick.
Two minutes later she tipped over the bar an effort from midfielder Rashid as the visitors piled on the pressure.

Zimbabwe’s last chance, which should have been converted, came deep in injury time but Jeke chose to squeeze her shot, where the Tanzanians were camped, instead of the left side.
He shot, after a goalmouth melee, was diverted away from goal by a Tanzanian defender.

Mighty Warriors coach Rosemary Mugadza praised her charges for their resilience against the odds.
“l would like to thank the girls for showing character playing the last 45 minutes with 10 players,” said Mugadza.

“They showed endurance and we just have to win this trophy.
“They didn’t lose heart and played as a team. I am sure they will achieve more than I did as a player by winning the final,” said Mugadza.

The gaffer also saluted the fans for rallying behind the team in the dying stages of the match and during the penalty shootout lottery.
Tanzania coach Charles Mkwasa said the hosts were just lucky to win the match.
“We could have won the game. But it was always going to be difficult playing a home team with everyone behind them. The girls worked very hard but that penalty cost us.

“If we had scored the match would have been different. Zimbabwe were lucky and we wish them all the best in the final,” said Mkwasa.

Teams
Zimbabwe: O. Chingawo, R. Mutyavaviri, D. Bhobho, N. Majika, E. Chibanda, T. Mandaza, N. Ndlovu (E. Msipa 90th minute), T. Mairosi, M. Nyaumwe, R. Neshamba (K. Basopo 90th minute), R. Machingura (E. Jeke 64th minute).
Tanzania: F. Jawadu, S. Mwasikili, M. Tamba, F. Makusanya, M. Abdillah, A. Rashid, M. Shuruwa, F. Swahele(R. Hamis 59th minute), E. Mlenzi, F. Salum, F. Kigalawa(N. Kuga 64th minute).