20 June 2005

Bafana Bafana suffered a crippling loss to Ghana in their World Cup qualifier at the FNB Stadium on Saturday afternoon, going down 2-0 to the Black Stars to fall to second in African Group Two qualifying behind the Ghanaians.

Missed chances in the opening half came back to haunt Stuart Baxter's charges as Ghana dominated the second period to score twice, recording a hugely important victory over their closest rivals in the group.

What it means is that the Black Stars are now level with South Africa on 15 points; but, because they have beaten South Africa twice - 3-0 in Kumasi and 2-0 in Johannesburg - they have the advantage over Bafana Bafana should both teams finish on the same number of points.

Goal difference
Ghana also enjoy a much better goal difference than South Africa, which is not surprising given their five goals to nothing advantage in head-to-head meetings with SA. The West Africans are seven goals to the good, while South Africa have scored nine and conceded nine.

Now it all comes down to the two remaining qualifying contests for each team and, again, Ghana appear to have the advantage.

The Ghanaians end their campaign away to fourth-placed Cape Verde Islands and at home to last-placed Uganda. South Africa next take on the Democratic Republic of Congo, who are in third, and then face second-from-bottom Burkina Faso away from home.

FNB encounter
In the encounter at the FNB Stadium, South Africa had a decent chance to take the lead after a quarter of an hour when Steven Pienaar put through a smart through ball for Shaun Bartlett. The Charlton Athletic striker was narrowly wide of the right upright with his powerful shot, however.

After half an hour Bartlett had a great opportunity to put Bafana ahead, but he wasted a gilt-edged chance. Again Pienaar was the provider, knocking in a cross that the striker should have headed home, but his shot went wide of the far upright.

Shortly afterwards, Mikael Essien - wanted, it seems, by nearly every big European club - was just wide for Ghana.

At the break, the teams were still level at nil-nil, with Bafana Bafana having enjoyed the better of the opening stanza.

Took the game to South Africa
However, a different-looking Ghanaian side emerged from the change rooms for the second half. They immediately took the game to South Africa, and two minutes in Matthew Amoah just failed to connect with a sharp cross from the left.

Lerato Chabangu came close for South Africa when his header was cleared off the line, but in the fifty-ninth minute Ghana moved in front when Steven Appiah - one of two players coach Baxter said South Africa needed to contain - broke the offside line before setting up Amoah for an easy tap-in.

Bartlett had a header cleared off the line, but the South African efforts to level the scores came to nought.

Killer blow
Then, with the match already into extra time, Michael Essien - the second of the players Baxter said Bafana had to contain - struck the killer blow, rising high to head home from a free kick and ensure victory for the Black Stars.

South African captain Aaron Mokoena, who won his fiftieth cap, was extremely disappointed with the result. However, he vowed that SA would continue to fight to qualify for Germany 2006 until the end.

Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter backed up his players, saying he expects they will win their remaining two qualifying contests.

Unfortunately for Baxter, two wins might not be enough. Whether South Africa qualify or not is no longer entirely in the team's hands.

AFRICAN GROUP TWO FIXTURES

7 October

Uganda 8 2 1 5 4 11 7

	Bafana win on the Islands Bafana beat Uganda 2-1 Bafana held to draw by Socceroos Bafana banish Nigerian bogey Bafana win in Kampala Bafana stumble against DRC Bafana surprise African champs Bafana beat Burkina Faso 2-0 Bafana crash 3-0 to Ghana Bafana beat Cape Verde 2-1 Soccer: the people's passion

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