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Message: [QUOTE="Nehanda, post: 29323, member: 2262"] Zimbabwe may not qualify for the 2026 World Cup anymore, but they showed amazing heart last night at Moses Mabhida Stadium. The team battled back twice against Group C leaders Benin to earn a tie. Their comeback spirit impressed fans despite being eliminated from the competition already. The final score reflected how hard they fought against one of the top teams. Benin jumped ahead with a 2-0 lead just 35 minutes into the game. Captain Marshall Munetsi started the comeback with a first-half goal that cut the deficit. Former captain Knowledge Musona then tied everything up at the 59-minute mark. Musona played his first national game since retiring back in 2022. Benin scored first when Mounie Steve took advantage of a big mistake by goalkeeper Washington Arubi at the 12-minute mark. He easily put the ball into an empty net. Dokou Dodo made it 2-0 in minute 35 after a smooth passing play inside Zimbabwe's defense area. These early goals made the comeback even more special. The tie gave Zimbabwe three total points, leaving them five behind Benin, who lead the group. Moses Mabhida Stadium felt like a party as hundreds of Zimbabwean fans packed the stands. Classic songs from Zimbabwe legends Leonard Dembo and Simon Chimbetu blasted through speakers during warm-ups. The music added to the festive mood before kickoff. The match became a big social event for Zimbabweans living in South Africa. They traveled from places like Durban and Johannesburg to support their team. The 56,000-seat stadium had plenty of empty spots, but thousands of fans made enough noise for everyone. Their cheers grew louder with each comeback goal. Despite losing World Cup hopes, fans left happy seeing such determination. Coach Michael Nees proved smart by keeping Musona on the field until minute 83. The veteran player rewarded that faith by scoring during his comeback game. His goal came from a free kick by Zemura, who sent the ball near the post. Zemura, who plays left back for Udinese, helped create both goals. His first assist set up Munetsi earlier. Tawanda Chirewa entered the game at halftime, replacing Prince Dube. The Huddersfield player made Coach Nees happy with his strong performance. Chirewa later explained the coach told him to attack aggressively against Benin. He expressed pride about representing Zimbabwe and making his family proud through his national team appearance. Zimbabwe faces Nigeria next Tuesday in Uyo. Emmanuel Jalai, the small but mighty Dynamos captain, should feel excited after his amazing full debut. The right-back worked perfectly with Zemura along the sideline. Late substitute Tawanda Maswanhise showed flashes of brilliance during his minutes. His brief appearance reminded everyone that he represents the future of Zimbabwe soccer. [/QUOTE]

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