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Bafana impress in win over Ghana

Brad Morgan

12 August 2010

Bafana Bafana scored a 1-0 victory over Ghana in very cold conditions at the FNB Stadium in Soweto on Wednesday night to give new coach Pitso Mosimane a deserved win in his first match in charge since taking over from Carlos Alberto Parreira.

A crowd of about 45 000 braved the freezing conditions to watch the two teams that drew the greatest support from South African fans in the recent Fifa World Cup™ during which Ghana was Africa's best performer.

The home team showed impressive hustle and team work and gave their more highly regarded opponents the run around at times. There could be no doubt after the game that they were full value for their win.

'A tremendous morale boost'

Afterwards, a happy Mosimane told Sapa: "This was a good start and baptism for me. Beating Ghana is a tremendous morale boost for all of us.

"It was a tough game. We were tactically superior, well organised and started well. What pleased me was there were no butterflies in the tummies.

"We had shape and good tactical discipline."

Ghana's coach Milovan Rajevac, was magnanimous in defeat, saying: "South Africa were the better side. They were more motivated than us and deserved to win. We are far from our World Cup form."

He also noted that the FNB Stadium has been far from a happy hunting ground for Ghana. They have played at the stadium three times and lost all three games.

South Africa's victory was their fifth in nine matches against the Black Stars.

Serious intent

From the kick off, Bafana Bafana showed serious intent and immediately took the game to the Black Stars. They used the width of the field well and got both fullbacks, Tsepo Masilela and Anele Ngcongca, involved in out-flanking the visitors.

Within the opening five minutes Bernard Parker created an opportunity for Mamelodi Sundowns' striker Katlego Mphela. However, his shot was deflected behind by Richard Kingson for a corner.

Kingson had to be at his best on the quarter-hour mark when Siphiwe Tshabalala played Mphela in. The striker closed on goal, but the goalkeeper denied him in a one-on-one showdown.

Masilela then made a good run down the left and played in a teasing cross, but Parker narrowly failed to get on the end of it with a diving header.

Bafana continued to push and crank up the pressure, and Mphela, to the frustration of coach Mosimane, again came close, this time from a header off a corner by Tshabalala, while Steven Pienaar tested Kingson with an inswinging corner.

Reward

South Africa's dominance was finally rewarded three minutes before the break and, fittingly, it was Mphela who broke the deadlock.

Pienaar played an insightful ball with excellent touch through the Ghanaian defence and Mphela got onto the end of it before pushing it low and wide of Kingson and into the back of the net.

Afterwards, the Sundowns' striker, who has been linked Scottish Premier League club Glasgow Rangers, told Football365.co.za: "I am very happy, I mean it was our first game, especially me in terms of a competitive game.

"I was a bit sluggish to start with. I got two chances and missed them, but I managed to score the third one.

"To score my 17th goal in my 36th appearance, I mean what can one say, it is a great achievement for me."

Changes

Kingson, one of the busiest players in the first half, was taken off at the break due to an injury and replaced by Daniel Agyei. By contrast, Itumeleng Khune in the Bafana goal had not been tested at all during the opening 45 minutes.

South Africa's most capped player ever and team captain Aaron Mokoena also departed at the break, making way for Siyabonga Sangweni.

With more changes made during the second period, the standard of play dropped and the match became somewhat scrappy.

Early on, Parker had a shot from close range blocked by Lee Addy. He then set Mphela up for a brace, but Mphela's control let him down and he surrendered possession to Jonathan Mensah.

Given Bafana's dominance on the night, the scoring of a second goal would have resulted in a more accurate reflection of the game.

First goal scoring opportunity

The Black Stars' first opportunity to score arrived in the 53rd minute, but Emmanuel Agyemang Badu fired over the top of goal from a free-kick.

Ghana finally forced Khune into action 10 minutes later when Asamoah Gyan brought a good save out of the Bafana Bafana net-minder with a well-struck shot from the edge of the area.

Near the end of the game, the Black Stars had an opportunity to score from close range, but Khune parried Cofie Bekoe's shot behind for a corner.

Upward trajectory

After the World Cup, South Africa had risen 17 places in the Fifa World Rankings, from 83rd to 66th. Now, with a win over the team ranked 23rd in the world, it appears that they are on an upward trajectory.

The successful hosting of the World Cup has certainly given football in the country a welcome boost: the national team is once again looked upon with respect and a record crowd of 87 000 for the Telkom Charity Cup last weekend is proof of this.

Continued improvement by Bafana Bafana will be vital to the effort to draw greater and greater support to the beautiful game; Ghana was a good start to the Mosimane era.