Jerusha Ramasawmy scored a brace as hosts Mauritius started their 2019 COSAFA Women’s Under-17 Championship campaign with a resounding 5-1 victory over fellow islanders Comoros at the St. François Xavier Stadium on Friday.
The win will boost the confidence of the home side, who top their Group A after Uganda and Zambia played to a 1-1 draw in the other match in the pool.
There was a frantic start to the clash with three goals in the opening 14 minutes as both sides looked nervous at the back. Eva Pierrot opened the scoring for the hosts with a neat finish into the bottom corner of the net, but Comoros levelled shortly afterwards as Moinahedji Ali turned the ball home.
Four minutes later and the home side led again as Ramasawmy showed her lethal touch in front of goal to restore the advantage. Ramasawmy missed with a good chance and Pierrot fired over the bar before the former finally did add a third for the home team with another well-taken strike.
Mauritius ended with a flourish as they scored two more in the final minutes, skipper Marie Verloppe getting her name on the scoresheet, along with Marie Quirin adding the fifth.
While Zambia Fought Back for A Point Against Uganda
Zambia scored a superb late equaliser to rescue a point from East African side Uganda, who were made to pay for some profligacy in front of goal in their 1-1 draw in the other game in Group A.
Both sides had openings in a goalless first 45 minutes, but it was Uganda who took the lead on the hour-mark following a foul in the box on Kevin Nakacwa. Uganda skipper Juliet Nalukenge stepped up and showed excellent composure to score from the penalty.
Zambia poured forward in search of an equaliser, which finally came on 84 minutes as Shelly Masumo rifled home an excellent shot that left Uganda goalkeeper Daphine Nyayenga with no chance.
One of the pre-tournament favourites South Africa get their Group B campaign under way on Saturday when they clash with Seychelles at the St. François Xavier Stadium (15h30 kick-off; 13h30 GMT).
Photo 1 Caption: Hosts Mauritius got their COSAFA Women’s U-17 campaign off to a bright start with a 5-1 victory in Group A. Photo: @COSAFAMEDIA on Twitter
With editing by gsport
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