Bafana, Socceroos share the spoils
Brad Morgan
20 August 2008
A superb second-half strike by Teko Modise helped Bafana Bafana share the honours with Australia as the teams played to a 2-2 draw in an international soccer friendly at Loftus Road in London on Tuesday night.
Although South Africa took an early lead, it was the Socceroos who dominated the first half, which helped them take a 2-1 advantage into halftime. After the break a much improved performance by Bafana provided cause for optimism … and an equalising goal. It was, very much, the clichéd game of two halves.
Coach Joel Santana included midfielder Siyabonga Nkosi and left back Bradley Carnell in the South African side, giving the two Germany-based players their first international opportunities in almost a year. Striker Benni McCarthy made an umpteenth return to the Bafana line-up.
After the first whistle sounded, the Australians hit their stride quickly and won a free-kick in a dangerous position on the edge of the area, which also cost SA captain Aaron Mokoena a yellow card when he dragged down Scott McDonald. Fortunately for South Africa, Mark Bresciano failed to capitalise.
The men from Down Under were making the running, but they fell behind to a superbly engineered goal after 20 minutes.
Receiving a pass from Kagiso Dikgacoi on the edge of the area, Benni McCarthy back-heeled the ball into the path of Siyabonga Nkosi, who picked it up at pace as he pushed forward onto the attack. The midfielder made no mistake with the opportunity, guiding the ball past Aussie goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer to open the scoring.
The lead didn't last long. Four minutes after Bafana had hit the front, Australia were back on level terms through Mile Sterjovski. He picked up a long ball from Vincenzo Grella and, when confronted by Itumeleng Khune, lobbed the ball over the SA goalkeeper to make it 1-1.
It was a questionable decision by Khune to leave his line. The Kaizer Chiefs' netminder, who had so far impressed in his short international career, did not enjoy a good outing and more errors of judgement and execution followed.
One of those mistakes occurred shortly after he had conceded the goal; Khune failed to hold on to a cross and Joshua Kennedy was off target with a header.
Sterjovski beat Khune again in the 36th minute but, to the relief of the South African side, the goal was disallowed after the Australian was ruled offsides.
Khune's bad night continued with halftime approaching when he misjudged a free kick by Bresciano, leaving Kennedy with a free header which he gratefully headed past the goalkeeper to put Australia 2-1 to the good.
Despite playing second fiddle throughout the half, Bafana had a good opportunity to draw level in the 41st minute when Nkosi set McCarthy up with a pinpoint cross. The striker, though, headed wide and South Africa went into the break trailing by a goal.
Joel Santana's charges started the second half brightly and McCarthy again threatened with a header from a corner, but he couldn't keep his shot down.
Dean Carney sounded a warning for the Socceroos when he drilled a shot just over the South African goals.
Macbeth Sibaya then tried a shot from long range and his sizzling drive from 30 metres was not far off the target.
With 13 minutes played in the second stanza, South Africa pulled level through a great goal from Teko Modise.
McCarthy created some space for Bryce Moon with a neat back-heel and he, in turn, knocked in an accurate pass to an unmarked Modise, who blasted an unstoppable shot into the back of the net from 16 metres out.
The match then drifted back and forth, with neither team creating a decent chance until Khune was beaten by Australian substitute Bruce Djite, but luckily for him Nasief Morris was covering and cleared the ball off of the goal line.
After the contest, SA coach Santana was full of praise for striker Benni McCarthy, telling the media that the Blackburn Rovers' star had a key role to play for Bafana Bafana at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Santana lauded McCarthy's ability to hold up the ball and said he also worked hard at shutting down defenders.
"I hope he will be a regular over next two years, but football is always a surprise," said Santana.
There will be continuing concerns about the central defence pairing of Nasief Morris and Aaron Mokoena. Although both men are fine players, together they still allow the opposition to play too much football in the middle of the park.
Khune had a poor game in goal, but the 21-year-old will, no doubt, improve and has a future at international level.
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