Flames lose yet again
The Flames were left searching their souls yet again yesterday when they failed to progress even in the losers’ phase of the Cosafa Cup in Zambia.
They twice gave away the lead to go down 3-2 to an inexperienced Angola’s Neglas Palancas side.
The result raises questions about the Flames pedigree to stand the heat against African champions Nigeria’s Super Eagles in a decisive 2014 World Cup African qualifier away in the fortress Abuja on September 6.
New caretaker coach Tom Saintfiet was left with plenty of food for thought after suffering his second successive defeat in charge of the Flames. He also watched the Flames lose 1-0 against Mozambique in an international friendly match that was played in front of President Joyce Banda.
Yesterday’s match, played in the Copperbelt, was a drab game that failed to stir the passions of the small turnout.
The Flames raised false hopes when they drew first blood in the sixth minute through striker Gastin Simkonda.
The goal was engineered by burly forward Chiukepo Msowoya. He made a solo run on the left and released a powerful shot that proved too hot for goalkeeper Nelson Fransisco to handle and Simkonda ghosted in to tap the ball home.
Barely six minutes later, Angola equalised through Cristovao Paciencio, a goal that exposed Flames’ glaring defensive frailities.
The Flames started the second-half with renewed purpose and substitute Boniface Kaulesi’s well-curled corner kick was finished into his own net by Angola’s defender Abdul Antonio Nzavinao.
But just a few minutes later, the determined Angolans pulled level again through Paciencio.
With five minutes to full time, Nzavinao made amends for his earlier own goal, when he tapped the ball home with a free header which caught the Flames rearguard flat-footed.
And, so it was game over.
