HERENTALS Queens left it late to secure a draw in the final minute of injury and force a penalty shootout that they won against Correctional Queens to book a semi-final berth against Chapungu Queens.
Correctional Queens took the lead and sat on the lead for most of the match and just as looked like they were going through to the semifinals, Herentals equalized in added time through an Alice Moyo strike to send their voiceforous fans into a frenzy.
The Innocent Benza team won the match on penalties.
Just like in their match against Conduit Academy, Herentals conjured some clear cut chances but were still found wanting in the final third.
The match lived to its billing played at a lively pace, and was watched by a record crowd on the second day of the Heart Women’s Soccer League tournament.
The students buoyed by their drum beating fans tried to breakdown a resolute Correctional Queens but they remained resolute until in the dying minutes of the match, a lapse in concentration allowed Herentals back into the match.
Simbarashe Dedza, Herentals coach looked a relieved man after the match.
“We are happy that we have qualified to the next round but the game was tight and the opponent was organized. We enjoyed this game of football because both teams were balanced and we saw that women’s football is improving”
Women’s football is sometimes played on some of the worst fields in the country, Dedza was happy that the women got to play on a good Heart Stadium surface for a change.
“This tournament helps us to assess that if we get the good grounds and good playing environments, women’s football can become great”he said
On failing to breakdown teams and score enough goals, Dedza believes there is not much to choose between the teams.
“What we have seen in this tournament is that these teams are operating at the same level. There is no small or big team anymore. So it is not easy for us to score because the opponents are at the same level as us.
“In the game against Conduit we were very lucky, the opponent should have buried us but we managed to ride on our luck and go through.
“In the game against Correctional Queens they were faster than us and got better goal scoring chances than us but we just found a way to win.”said the young Herentals mentor
Each time Herentals plays there have a big contingent of supporters and it also seems like they have also an equal number of opposing fans who always support any team that they will be playing.
“It is not easy being champions, because every game that you play it is a final, all we do at Herentals is encourage each other to score because football matches are won by scoring goals. If you don’t score you will not become champions no matter what the crowd is doing.”added Dedza.
