Bafana beat Zim on late own goal
12 March 2008Bafana Bafana managed a 2-1 victory over Zimbabwe in a friendly international between the southern African neighbours in Germiston on Tuesday night, but it needed a late own goal for South Africa to take the win.
The home side started the match brightly and had an opportunity to take an early lead after they were awarded a free kick 20 metres out from the Zimbabwean goal. Teko Modise took a shot, but his effort passed narrowly wide.
Bafana continued to press, causing some flutters in the visitors' defence, but they kept the home team at bay before striking with a sucker-punch.
Deflection
After SA conceded a free kick, Orlando Pirates' striker Gilbert Mushangazhike stepped up to take a crack at Bafana's defences. His low shot took a deflection off the South African wall, wrong-footed SA goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune, and crossed the line for the opening goal of the game after 12 minutes.
It seemed South Africa had levelled the scores when Teko Modise put the ball in the back of the net, but his effort was ruled offside.
Sthembiso Ngcobo then squandered a good opportunity to equalize when he headed wide with the goal begging for a shot on target.
Changes
Bafana Bafana coach Carlos Alberto Parreira decided to roll the dice at halftime and made four changes, bringing Bennet Chenene for Siphiwe Tshabalala, Thulasizwe Mbuyane for Papi Zothwane, Innocent Mdledle for Brett Evans, and Bafo Biyela for Kagisho Dikgacoi.
There was almost an immediate reward for Parreira's initiative when Modise slid a perfect pass through for Chenene, but Zimbabwe's goalkeeper Energy Murambadoro denied the substitute with a classy save to keep the Warriors in front.
Bafana Bafana continued to exert pressure on the Zimbabweans, but the visitors kept resisting as Murambadoro was called on to reject a powerful strike from Ncgobo and then deal with a testing shot from Modise.
Equaliser
Murambadoro again rescued the Warriors after Bryce Moon had found Chenene with a nice low cross, but two minutes later, in the 73rd minute, he was finally beaten. The Zim keeper blocked a shot by Chenene, but was left helpless as the ball fell into the path of Ngcobo, who tucked away the opportunity.
Determined to get more out of the game than a draw, South Africa continued to do the pressing, but their finishing left something to be desired; it appeared the honours would be shared until mere seconds remained in the game.
A cross from Innocent Mdledle looked harmless, but James Matola, who had enjoyed a solid game, deflected the ball into his own net and Bafana Bafana stole a win at the death.
Paraguay squad
After the match, SA coach Carlos Alberto Parreira announced a 22-man squad to take on Paraguay in a friendly at the Super Stadium in Atteridgeville on
26 March.
The most interesting selection was that of Benni McCarthy, the Blackburn Rovers' striker, who had been left out of the South African squad that contested African Cup of Nations in Ghana.
Recently McCarthy, SA's all-time leading international goal-scorer, said he wanted to take part in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, so this was a message from Parreira that he is still in the running for a place in football's biggest event two years from now. Clearly, South Africa need to improve in front of goal, and the inclusion of the country's most recognised striker is a step in that direction.
Parreira also included a number of other overseas-based players, but opted to look to the PSL to supply the majority of the squad with 15 of the players being home-based and seven playing abroad.
Paraguay, ranked 26th in the Fifa world rankings, compared to South Africa's 71st, are sure to provide Parreira's charges with the kind of test the coach wants to assess his players and define who has what he wants when the 2010 World Cup comes around.
SA SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs), Moeneeb Josephs (BidVest Wits)
Defenders: Aaron Mokoena (Blackburn Rovers, England), Bongani Khumalo (Supersport United), Mokete Tsotsetsi (Kaizer Chiefs), Bryce Moon (Ajax Cape Town), Nasief Morris (Panathinaikos, Greece), Tsepo Masilela (Maccabi Haifa, Israel), Innocent Mdledle (Orlando Pirates)
Midfielders: Lance Davids (Djurgardens, Sweden), Thulasizwe Mbunyane (Free State Stars), Steven Pienaar (Everton, England), Surprise Moriri (Mamelodi Sundowns), Kagisho Dikgacoi (Golden Arrows), Bafo Biyela (AmaZulu), Bernard Parker (Thanda Royal Zulu), Teko Modise (Orlando Pirates), Siphiwe Tshabalala (Kaizer Chiefs), Sthembiso Ngcobo (Free State Stars)
Strikers: Excellent Walaza (Orlando Pirates), Thembinkosi Fanteni (Maccabi Haifa, Israel), Benni McCarthy (Blackburn Rovers, England)
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