MATCH REPORT: ZAMBIA 1 - 2 TUNISIA #AFCON2015 Zambia gave up a second half lead to lose 2 -1 against Tunisia in their Group B match at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations despite putting up a dominant display at the Nuevo Estadio de Ebebiyin on Thursday. Mayuka got the Chipolopolo in front on 60 minutes but Tunisia responded in the 70th and 88th minutes with goals from Ahmed Akaichi and Yacine Chikhaoui respectively. The match started with Tunisia on the front foot and had claims for a penalty turned down by referee when Sunzu was adjudged to have handled the ball in the area in the third minute. Apart from the early penalty claim the Carthage Eagles did not pose any kind of threat for the Chipolopolo who had quickly weathered the storm and looked like the side mostly likely to break the deadlock. Chipolopolo skipper Rainford Kalaba had four chances to give Zambia the lead in the opening half hour with his first going wide of Mathlouthis goal in the 15th minute. Kalabas second attempt came in the 25th minute following good build up play involving Given Singuluma and Evans Kangwa but again the infuential midfielder who was deployed in more central position sent his effort wide. Kalaba got his first effort on target on 32 minutes forcing a save out of Mathlouthi who punched the ball behind for a corner. Two minutes later Kalaba shot wide from close range and Mayuka could have broken the deadlock five minutes before the break when he got his free header on target but the Tunisian goalkeeper was alert to the danger. The first half finished with Zambia on the front foot and Mayuka will wonder how he miscued first time shot inside the box with only the goalkeeper to beat at the stroke of half time. Tunisias only effort on target in the first half came in the 18th minute when Saihi drove in a long range effort which Mweene saved comfortably. The opening exchanges of the second half were more evenly balanced with Tunisia threatening from a corner in the 50th minute and a minute later Kalaba forcing a save at the other end from an effort from the left byline. Singuluma attempted from range in the 55th minute but his tame effort did not trouble Mathlouthi. The deadlock was eventually broken on the hour mark by Emmanuel Mayuka who rifled his effort from close range in the top of Mathlouthis net after collecting a loose ball following good combination play between Kangwa and Kalaba. Kangwa was involved again three minutes later when he broke from the midfield beating his marker in the process but his effort went wide across the face of goal. Zambia did not relax and could have increased their advantage with chances falling to Lubambo Musonda and Emmanuel Mayuka within five minutes of opening the scoring but both chances went begging. However the Chipolopolo defence got caught out in the 70th minute when Ahmed Akaichi who was unmarked at the far post equalised following a corner. Zambias chance to restore their lead came in the 78th minute when Kangwa got his effort from outside the area on target but Mathlouthi was equal to the task. Zambia was dealt a big blow as Yacine Chikaoui headed past Mweene to turn in a cross from Youssef Msakni to give the Carthage Eagle the lead at the death. Zambia have a sinsingle point from two matches while Tunisia go to the top of Group B before Congo DR and Cape Verde face off at the same venue. Zambias final group stage match will be played against Cape Verde at the the Nuevo Estadio de Ebebiyin on January 26.
Posted on: Thu, 22 Jan 2015 18:01:49 +0000
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