Scotland edge impressive Bafana
Brad Morgan
23 August 2007
Facing Scotland in front of a small crowd at Pittodrie on Wednesday evening, Bafana Bafana put together a coordinated display, with some impressive passing that overshadowed the Scots' efforts. The home team, however, came away with a 1-0 win, thanks to a 71st minute goal by substitute Kris Boyd.
For South Africa, Papi Zothwane excelled in the midfield, pulling the strings as Bafana was in control for most of the game.
SA coach Carlos Alberto Parreira said he was happy with his team's performance, although he was obviously unhappy to see his side lose.
Played with confidence
Parreira said Bafana played with confidence, kept the ball on the ground, and created good opportunities. The Scots, he said, showed their experience, and scored with the first clear-cut opportunity they created.
Happy to have his request to play friendlies against stronger teams answered - SA has further friendlies against Saudi
Arabia, world champions Italy, and the USA coming up - Parreira added that South Africa needs to keep playing better sides to improve.
Bafana Bafana's fluid passing impressed but, as has unfortunately become an all too familiar refrain for Carlos Alberto Parreira's charges, goals were hard to come by.
First chance
The first goal scoring opportunity of the match came SA's way in the eighth minute, when Sibusiso Zuma robbed defender Russell Anderson. The ball fell for Arminia Bielefeld midfielder Siyabonga Nkosi, but he failed to find the target with his shot.
Zuma was back tormenting Anderson within a number of minutes, and when the Sunderland man put in a clumsy and nasty tackle he was booked by referee Martin Atkinson. Sadly for Zuma, who like Nkosi plays for Bundesliga club Arminia Bielefeld, he was injured in the tackle. Siyabonga Nomvethe was brought on in his place.
Bafana Bafana was in control of proceedings, making the
ball do the work with sharp passing as Scotland chased shadows.
Scottish opportunity
With almost half-an-hour played, Scott Brown had a chance for Scotland after a slip by Benson Mhlongo, but MacBeth Sibaya was on hand to head clear his shot from close range.
South Africa's goal-scoring woes were highlighted shortly afterwards, when an accurate cross from Bradley Carnell on the left picked out Nomvethe. The striker was unmarked and only 10 metres from goal, but his strong header flew high over the goals.
Scottish hearts fluttered when, after 34 minutes, Delron Buckley directed the ball onto the roof of Scotland's net.
Three minutes later, a free kick against Sibaya gave Scotland a chance to test goalkeeper Rowen Fernandez from 25 metres out. James McFadden's drive, however, passed over the crossbar.
At halftime the teams were level-pegging at nil-nil.
Wide of the mark
After the break,
Everton's Steven Pienaar picked out Aaron Mokoena from a corner, but the SA captain's header, like so many of the team's attempts on goal, was wide of the mark.
It took almost an hour's play before Bafana goalkeeper Fernandez was called on to make a save. Glasgow Celtic striker Kenny Miller executed a smart scissor-kick, but his shot was directly at Fernandez, the third of a trio of Arminia Bielefeld players in the SA side.
After 67 minutes, Miller and his strike partner Garry O'Connor were replaced as Scotland coach Alex McLeish opted for a double-substitution, bringing on Kris Boyd and Craig Beattie.
Goal
Boyd repaid McLeish's decision only four minutes later, netting his tenth goal in only six internationals.
Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher created the chance, playing a well-weighted chip over the South African defence which picked out the Rangers' forward, who drilled the ball into the roof of the
net.
Bafana Bafana came close to drawing level with just over 10 minutes to play when Ajax Cape Town striker "Terror" Fanteni beat goalkeeper Craig Gordon with a header from a corner. Barry Robson was on hand, however, to clear the shot off the line.
African Cup of Nations warm-up
The match served as a good warm-up for South Africa's final African Cup of Nations qualifier against Zambia in Cape Town in September.
Bafana Bafana needs only a draw to ensure qualification for Angola 2008, while the Zambians need to win by at least three goals to go through.
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