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with a deserved victory over Ghana in an African Nations Championships Group B encounter at Wad Medani stadium here last night.

The Dynamos newboy, thrust into the starting line-up after having come off the bench in the 1-0 defeat by Niger last Saturday, was at the hub of most of Zimbabwe’s best moves and with a bit of luck could have actually grabbed a brace.

Gutu repaid the faith shown in him by coach Madinda Ndlovu with a 70th minute winner as the Warriors finally turned their dominance of a game into victory.
The former Ajax Cape Town midfielder cleverly ran into the box to plant a powerful header past Ghana goalkeeper Adjei Adjei off a tantalising cross from veteran striker Norman Maroto from the right.
Gutu’s goal was due reward for yet another night when the Warriors were clearly the better side and the victory thrust Madinda’s men back into contention for a quarter-final slot.
Two teams from each group advance to the quarter-finals.

Zimbabwe’s neighbours South Africa sealed their place in the last eight after beating Niger 2-0 in an earlier game at the same venue.
A second-half brace by rangy forward Myron Shongwe gave South Africa the win and ensured they remained top of Group B with six points.
The Warriors — who face the South African in their final group game — moved from bottom into second place ahead of Niger on goal difference while winless and pointless Ghana now anchor the standings.

Madinda, who had hinted on handing Under-23 striker Simba Sithole his Warriors debut however, later opted to pack his midfield and use veteran Maroto as a lone striker with the quintet of Brian Mapfumo, Eric Mudzingwa, Denver Mukamba, Joel Ngodzo and Gutu operating in the midfield department.
Maroto, with years of experience garnered at Dynamos and Gunners, did not disappoint as he was full of running all night and could also have come out with at least a goal.

Both Zimbabwe and Ghana took to the field under heavy pressure after losing their opening games but it was the Warriors, who quickly eased into the groove with left back Qadr Amini testing Adjei with a long range shot from his own half which the Black Stars had to smother on the second attempt after initially spilling the ball.
Luckily for Adjei, there was no Warrior lurking close by to punish him.

But it was Gutu who set the tone for the Warriors when he beat two defen-ders and also sent in a long drive which Adjei just had a touch to in the ninth minute.
Gutu was threatening the Black Stars each time he found possession and in the 22nd minute he burst through the middle, sweeping past his opponents with the ease of a seasoned player but his final delivery on a hard and patchy field skied over both the goalkeeper and the cross bar.
Ghana had earlier had one of few clear chances on the Warriors goal when winger Daniel Larbi released a half volley which however, found Washington Arubi alert.

Maroto then broke down the right challenge and sent in a low delivery which Joel Ngodzo, who had a quiet game, drilled wide.
But if they were dominant in that opening period, the Warriors survived a huge scare when Bismarck Idan was left unmarked in the box but he directed his header wide with Arubi on the wrong end of the action.
It was the Black Stars’ best chance of the opening period and one of the few occasions they breached the resolute pair of Nyasha Mukumbi and Guthrie Zhikonyi in the heart of the Warriors defence.
The enterprising Mudzingwa also came close for the Warriors following a crisp one-two move involving Amini, Mukamba and Gutu, but the Highlanders midfielder shot straight at the exposed goalkeeper.

The Warriors continued asking questions of the Black Stars defence with Mapfumo also testing their goalkeeper off a free-kick from about 20 metres.
Madinda then made a tactical change in the 64th minute and brought in steely defender Daniel Veremu for Ngodzo and pushed right back Gilbert Mapemba into a more attacking role on the flank.
That move paid dividends as Mape-mba began whipping in crosses, something that Ngdodzo had rarely done on the night and this seemed to trouble the Back Stars defence.

Six minutes later the Warriors found the breakthrough they had been longing for via Gutu’s header.
Gutu’s strike also seemed to have galvanized the Warriors as Mukamba gained in confidence and found himself face to face with Adjei but the Ghana goalkeeper denied him by diving to block his curling effort.
Mukamba was to trouble the Black Stars again in the 72nd minute but he could not beat Adjei.

The former Kiglon midfielder was however guilty of lacking composure in the box when he benefited from a miscued clearance by Ghana defender Awudu Nafiu but he hurried his 82nd minute effort wide and a glorious chance to kill off the match and enhance the Warriors’ goal difference had been lost.
A minute earlier Maroto had teed up Mapemba but the CAPS United defender just fired wide as the Warriors threatened to launch a late onslaught on the Black Stars.

Madinda, relieved to see his charges bouncing back into the reckoning, paid tribute to captain Arubi and his troops for the victory.
“It was not a surprise win, we lost the match against Niger because of technicalities and a lapse in concentration but tonight I attribute this win to the hard work of the players. They knew that pressure was on them after the loss to Niger and they fought hard right up to the last minute. I also noticed that Ghana thrive on wing play and that is why I congested the midfield and later brought on Veremu,” Madinda said.
The Warriors will now leave Wad Medani this morning to head to Khartoum ahead of their showdown with South Africa on Sunday while Ghana and Niger remain in this southern city for their final group assignment.

Both matches would have to be played at the same time.
Teams:
Zimbabwe: W. Arubi, G. Mapemba, Q. Amini, N. Mukumbi, G. Zhokinyi, B. Mapfumo, J. Ngodzo (D. Veremu 64th minute), E. Mudzingwa, N. Maroto, A. Gutu, D. Mukamba.
Ghana: A. Adjei, S. Saka, S. Mohammed (O. Ampong 74th minute), E. Gyimah, A. Badolo, E. Ansong, J. Ashong, A. Nafiu, B. Idan, I. Amaoko, D. Larbi (H. Kwofie 77th minute), G. Fiamenyo (E. Clottey 58th minute).
LATEST LOG
P    W    D    L    F      A     Pts
S.Africa            2     2     0     0     4      1     6
ZIMBABWE      2    1     0     1      1       1    3
Niger                2    1      0     1     1      2     3
Ghana             2     0      0     2     1     3     0
The Warriors will automatically qualify with a win against South Africa, in their last game, provided Niger fail to win in their last game against Ghana.
A winning margin of two goals, or better, for the Warriors against South Africa will take them above their neighbours and hand them a place in the quarter-finals irrespective of the result in the other game between Ghana and Niger.
The Warriors can draw against South Africa, and qualify, provided the game between Ghana and Niger also ends in a draw or Ghana win that match. Ghana, although bottom of the table, are not yet out because a 1-0 win in their last match against Niger and coupled with a Warriors’ loss against South Africa will leave Zimbabwe, Ghana and Niger on three points.
Goal difference will come into play and a 1-0 win for Ghana and a 0-1 defeat for Zimbabwe will see the Black Stars going through. South Africa are top but they have not yet qualified as a defeat against Zimbabwe, say 2-0, and a big win for Niger against Ghana could see the Rainbow Nation bowing out.
Fixtures Feb 13:
At Wad Medani: Ghana v Niger
At Omdurman:South Africa v Zimbabwe.