19 November 2007
A vibrant, colourful crowd witnessed South Africa fall 1-0 to the USA in the Nelson Mandela Challenge in Johannesburg on Saturday as Bafana Bafana failed to find the back of the net, despite creating numerous chances in the second half in a stirring attempt to overcome a one-goal deficit at the break.
For many South African supporters the story will be a familiar one: different game, same lament – the absence of a cutting edge in front of goal. It is a theme that has been running through Bafana's performances for a long time now.
Good finish for USA
For the Americans, claiming the silverware was a nice way to finish 2007 after a rough run in the latter part of the year. Their first 10 matches produced a brilliant nine wins and a draw, as well as the Concacaf Gold Cup title, which lifted them to 14th in the Fifa World Rankings.
However, those excellent results were followed by five losses in succession before a 1-0 win over Switzerland in their final outing before the Mandela Challenge clash.
By contrast, Bafana Bafana would have been looking to the Nelson Mandela Challenge for inspiration to turn around a poor run of form that had seen the team net only three goals in its seven outings following a 4-0 rout of Chad. That meagre haul, surprisingly, produced a below-par record as opposed to a truly poor one of two wins, two draws, and three losses.
From a high of 57th in June, SA has dropped to 83rd in November in the world rankings, and it might get worse after the loss to the 18th-ranked Americans.
'A talented, dangerous team'
USA coach, Bob Bradley, speaking after his side's victory, praised South Africa, saying Carlos Alberto Parreira's charges are a "talented, dangerous team". He said his players had secured victory by playing with discipline and good organisation.
It was the USA's first victory on African soil. They had previously faced Morocco twice and lost by two goals on both occasions.
It was also the Americans' second win over South Africa; the two countries previously faced off in Washington in 2000, with the hosts handing out a 4-0 drubbing to SA.
Bradley predicted Bafana Bafana has a bright future ahead. His words, coming ahead of the African Cup of Nations in January, provided SA with some encouragement, but the truth of the matter is that until the team finds its goal scoring touch they are going to struggle to make an impression in Ghana.
Bafana coach Parreira, who normally makes himself accessible to the media, failed to speak to the press after the loss; it was possibly his way of objecting to the difficult preparations he was forced to endure, with a full programme of Premier Soccer League matches taking place on the Wednesday preceding Saturday's match.
The match
On the field, defender Nasief Morris forced goalkeeper Tim Howard
to make a decent save after 20 minutes, but in the 26th minute the United States made a counter-attack count as they took the lead.
Having created an overlap, Steve Cherundolo was put clear on the right. He rounded the South African defence, closed in on Rowen Fernandez's goal and blasted the ball high and handsomely into the roof of the net.
It was just his second goal for the USA and it proved to be the difference between the two teams.
South Africa had an opportunity to get back on level terms just a few minutes later, but Sibusiso Zuma failed to make good contact with the ball.
The visitors could have doubled their lead shortly before the break when Benfica midfielder Freddy Adu failed to get the better of Fernandez in a one-on-one showdown as he shot across the face of goal.
Second half
Bafana Bafana controlled the second half of the contest, but they failed to turn their advantage in possession into a goal.
Teko Modise headed wide after 54 minutes. Then Sibusiso Zuma saw a decent shot deflected for a corner. Shortly afterwards, the Arminia Bielefeld striker's effort was blocked and when the ball fell kindly for Delron Buckley his shot was off target.
Zuma was again involved when he set up MacBeth Sibaya for a shot, but the midfielder's strike passed on the wrong side of the upright.
As time wound down, Bafana Bafana believed they deserved a penalty when striker Benni McCarthy went down in the penalty area; unfortunately for the hosts, referee Eddy Maillej didn't agree with them.
Later, an appeal for a handball was turned down as Maillej awarded a corner to South Africa.
When the final whistle sounded, South Africa had won the statistical battle, firing 12 shots to the USA's three, but it was the Americans who had made good on one their three shots.
A return to South Africa
United States coach Bob Bradley reckoned he and his
charges enjoyed their visit to the Rainbow Nation and said he is looking forward to returning in 2009 for the Confederations Cup and in 2010 for the World Cup.
While Bafana Bafana didn't win, the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund benefited from the game to the tune of over half-a-million rand.
South Africa won't have much time to right the wrongs from their defeat as they're in action on Tuesday again, taking on world number 51 Canada in Durban.
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