SA U-20s ‘were not positive enough’

SuperSport United and Amajita midfielder Teboho Mokoena (left) reckons the team’s loss to Italy in their second Group D match at the Under-20 Fifa World Cup in South Korea was because of the team wasn’t attacking enough to create goalscoring chances.

The South Africans lost 2-0 to the Europeans at the Suwon World Cup Stadium on Wednesday, making it their second loss in the competition after losing their opener 2-1 to Japan.

“We spent much of our possession in our own half, we didn’t make much effort when attacking and I believe that’s what killed us because we allowed them to come at us,” said the midfielder.

Mokoena, who arrived late in Asia and missed the first match against Japan, came on as a second-half substitute with the team already 2-0 down on the hour mark. He replaced Wiseman Meyiwa.

“I wanted to make the team play and lift the spirits of the guys. Because I saw what was lacking in the game and tried to go forward as much as I could with the ball. The guys tried really hard,” he added.

With the second loss in the tournament, Amajita’s only hope of qualifying is to score three goals without reply against Uruguay at the Incheon Football Stadium tomorrow. And Japan would have to beat Italy in the other group fixture.

Uruguay top the group with six points, while Italy and Japan are level on three points and are second and third respectively, Amajita are bottom of the group with no points.