Malawi recorded a more-than creditable 2-0 win in the Cosafa Cup U-17 clash aganist Botswana in Mauritius on Saturday.

Chinsisi Maonga gave Malawi the lead in the 17th minute before Tathedwa Willard made it 2-0 as he finished from a Hamid Balala assist in the 59th minute.Newton Nsoma struck the woodwork for the Malawi in the 81st.

Botswana looked to have the better of the more fancied Malawi yongsters for much of the game, and in particular the first half.Malawi, however, were able to weather a storm of Botswana attacks to keep the sides level.

Botswana looked confident on the ball and attacked as a team, while Malawi were nervous and lacking in creativity.

Malawi’s lack of initiative mattered little when the game-changing moment came in the 15th minute with Maonga putting his side in front as his shot is diverted in his own net by the Botswana’s keeper.

Tathedwa doubled his tally in second half ,when he caught Botswana on the break as they threw everyone forward and slotted into an open goal to secure the 2-0 victory and vault his team into the last four.

Earlier, the first shot of the encounter fell to Saakane of Botswana in the seventh minute. Kefas found space on the edge of the area, and with time to spare could only deposit his shot into the stands.

Two minutes later,Daniel Sandukira for Malawi made a run down the right and his cross into the box could not find his man, with the Botswana defence rushing back to cover.

The first good chance fell to Botswana just under the quarter hour mark. After a number of passes in the box, Kashiwa for Botswana had acres of space and time, but made a mess of his shot which flew way over goal.

In the 12th minute, a foul in a dangerous area gifted Malawi a free kick on the right hand side 30 metres out.Patrick Mwaungulu went for goal from the setpiece, but directed his shot just past the far post.

Two minutes later, Titani imade a run from the right touchline infield towards the box. With teammates waiting in the area Chose decided to have a dip at goal, but his shot was wildly misdirected.

A 14th minute corner by Maonga for Malawi was swung in fiercely, but the danger was cleared by some hurried Botswana defence.

The first goal in 15th minute opened up the game, and Botswana were on the attack from the restart with Kennedy in the Malawi goal producing some sharp saves.

A Chose free kick from 25 metres out required a punch-block from Kennedy in the 68th minute.

A number of probing Nankathaima free kicks followed, but despite exposing the Malwi defence his efforts could not find a Botswana player.

Tathedwa found himself in space running onto a ball in the 85th minute leaving just Senne in the Botswana goal to beat, but his shot was rushed and sailed into the crowd.

Later Chinsisi would have scored his second as Malawi sent all their players into the Botswana box and were caught on the break.