Wasteful Bafana shoot blanks
QUALIFIER: SPIRITED SEYCHELLES DENY BAXTER’S MEN
Wasteful Bafana make it difficult for themselves.
Bafana Bafana went from six to love against the Seychelles yesterday, as they were held to an embarrassing goalless draw by the island nation in a 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Group E qualifier in Victoria.
Fresh from winning 6-0 at the FNB Stadium on Saturday, Bafana were unable to prevail against a spirited performance from the home side, their best chance coming when Lebo Mothiba somehow hit the bar early in the second half, when it looked easier to score.
The result leaves Bafana’s chances of qualifying for Cameroon 2019 still in the balance, with their next game at home to Nigeria next month, before they finish their campaign in March with a trip to Libya.
Bafana had problems adjusting to the artificial surface at the Linite Stadium, with controlling a bouncing ball particularly tricky.
Their best chance of the half came when Dino Ndlovu headed Sifiso Hlanti’s cross towards goal, but Seychelles captain Jones Joubert managed to divert the ball away for a corner.
Dean Furman then found Percy Tau with a fine pass, and his cross was just diverted away from Mothiba by Seychelles goalkeeeper Jerome Dingwall, who proved a good choice in goal for this game.
Ndlovu had another effort that went just wide, and then headed over with Dingwall stranded inside the area.
Right at the end of the half, some nice link-up play between Tau and Ndlovu saw the former drive a shot wide.
Bafana should have taken the lead two minutes into the second half as Ndlovu burst clear and his cross was somehow steered onto the bar by Mothiba with the goal gaping.
Mothiba’s shot then forced a save from Dingwall, as Bafana turned up the pressure. They had the ball in the back of the net in the 55th minute, as Percy Tau turned in Mothiba’s header, but the flag was correctly up for offside.
Baxter made a change as Aubrey Modiba came on for Lebo Maboe, who failed to have the impact he did at the FNB Stadium.
The Seychelles finally had a shot on target, but Colin Esther’s effort was easy for Khune.
Modiba should have given Bafana the lead in the 69th minute as Tau played him in, but he snatched at his effort and it went wide of goal.
A rush of blood to the head from Khune then afforded Damoo a chance, as the Bafana’s keeper raced off his line, and Damoo chipped him, but could not keep his effort on target.
In the 85th minute, Dingwall made a superb save to deny a longrange effort from Furman.
In the 89th minute, Modiba missed another great chance, heading over Ramahlwe Mphahlele’s cross.