Lesotho scored a late goal to beat Zimbabwe 1-0 in an international friendly match played at Setsoto Stadium in Maseru on Wednesday’s night.
The match formed part of the preparations for the 2019 African Nations Cup for the two countries as both are not involved in 2018 World Cup qualifiers.
Zimbabwe is at the top of Group H in their qualification pool having beaten Liberia 3-0 in their opening match of the qualifiers earlier this year and face Congo Brazzaville in their next match.
Lesotho on the other hand is in Group L having started their campaign with a 1-1 draw away to Tanzania and occupies second position. They host Cape Verde in their next encounter.
Midfielder Hlompho Kalake came from the bench to score the solitary goal in the dying minutes of the match.
The Warriors were led by former Orlando Pirates and now Saudi Arabian based striker Tendai Ndoro in the absence of their regular skipper Knowledge Musona.
The lanky forward seemed to be combining well with South African based Kuda Mahachi in the opening stages of the match, but failed to make use of their dominance to put their side ahead.
Lesotho’s Crocodiles also managed to create chances of their own with both Litšepe Marabe and Nkoto Masoabi having squandered good chances in the first half of the match.
The game headed to the half-time break at goalless.
The tempo of the match dropped a bit in the second-half which led to the two coaches making substitutions in attacking position as Ndoro and Rusike were taken out for Tino Kadewere and Admiral Muskwe.
Lesotho also made three changes bringing in attacking midfielders Jane Thabantšo and the goalscorer Kalake, as well as striker Motebang Sera.
The gamble paid-off for Lesotho as Kalake pounced on a ball played by Poland-based Luciano Matsoso to put the home side ahead.
The win helped Lesotho end the dominance by Zimbabwe who won the last three encounters between the two countries with the last having come at the regional COSAFA Cup in July where the Warriors won a seven goal thriller to go all the way and win the tournament
Mikia Kalati
