Warriors fall as Algeria maintain unbeaten streak

The Zimbabwe national soccer team were made to pay for missed chances and poor preparations as Algeria walked away comfortable 3-1 winners in an encounter at the 5 July 1962 stadium in Algiers yesterday evening.

Following a disciplined start to the encounter any hopes of shutting out the hosts were quashed in the 31st minute when an ill-positioned Divine Lunga was caught flat footed allowing Algeria to get a clear shot which an awful Elvis Chipezeze failed to deal with. As a result Baghdad Bounedjah had the easiest of tap inns to steer the Desert Foxes into a 1 nil lead after 31 minutes.

Any hopes of a quick recovery were dashed 2 minutes from half time when Riyaad Mahrez was given time to release a pin point cross which Sofiane Feghouli nodded home without any Zimbabwean defenders keeping him in check.

In the second half Riyaad Mahrez showed his class with a deft finish propelling Algeria into a 3-1 lead. The encounter looked headed for a massive victory for the African champions but the Warriors instilled a measure of hope in the second half with Tinotenda Kadewere pulling a goal back as the Zimbabwe went down 3-1.