Bafana beat Uganda 2-1
29 March 2005
It was a far from convincing performance from Bafana Bafana, but they came away with the win South Africa needed when they beat Uganda 2-1 in a 2006 World Cup qualifier at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on Saturday.
Many thought it would be an easy game for Bafana Bafana, but from early on it became clear that the Cranes were not going to roll over for South Africa, who are ranked seventh in Africa and 40th in the world, as opposed to Uganda's 26th in Africa and 112th in the world.
Lucky break
Strangely out of sorts, Bafana Bafana seemed to lack the oomph that Uganda displayed, but they caught a lucky break 20 minutes into the contest when the referee awarded a controversial penalty, adjudging a cross by Quinton Fortune to have been handled by a Ugandan defender.
The Manchester United midfielder struck the penalty cleanly, drilling the ball into the roof of the net to beat goalkeeper Posnet
Omvony.
That success for the home side didn't affect the spirits of the Ugandans, who came back strongly, pushing hard for the equaliser. They forced South Africa onto the back foot, earning a number of corners, and came close when a bicycle kick by Sulaimani Tenywa passed over the crossbar.
1-0 halftime lead
Cranes' captain Ibrahim Sekaiu forced a great stop out of Bafana netminder Hans Vonk with a strong shot from range, but at halftime SA still led by the solitary goal of the half.
After the break, coach Stuart Baxter's charges looked better organised and more cohesive, but it was the Ugandans who struck the first blow when they equalised in the 62nd minute.
Panathinaikos defender Nasief Morris was penalised for pulling his man down in the box. David Obua stepped up to take the penalty and beat Vonk by sending him the wrong way. It was his fourth goal of Uganda's qualifying campaign.
Pienaar
scores
Ten minutes later, though, Steven Pienaar did the trick for South Africa by getting himself free and on the end of a cross from Delron Buckley at the back post to put the hosts back in front.
Uganda should have made it 2-2 with three minutes to play, but Hassan Mubiri shot wide after a mistake by defender Thabiso Ramille.
After the clash, Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter said his side was satisfied to claim three points for the victory, but added: "We're not satisfied with the way we played; we know we can play better."
On Sunday, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ghana drew 1-1 in an important Group Two clash, a result that suited South Africa. On Saturday, Cape Verde Islands won 2-1 in Burkina Faso.
Top of Group Two
Those results leave South Africa top of the qualifying group with 12 points after six matches, from four wins and two losses.
Cape Verde Islands occupy second spot with 10 points
from six contests. In third is Ghana on nine points, with the DRC fourth, also on nine points. Burkina Faso are fifth with six points, and Uganda props up the group with only four points from six games.
South Africa's next World Cup qualifier takes place in June, away to Cape Verde Islands, followed by a home tie against Ghana's Black Stars.
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