SA drop to plate section after defeat

BAFANA Bafana will roll out the excuses of missed chances and opponents who came to defend, but in the end their 4-3 penalties Cosafa Cup defeat against Madagascar in Polokwane was just another in a long line of disappointing results for the national team.

Bafana had their best chances to kill off their first game of the competition in the first half at the Peter Mokaba Stadium.

Madagascar, having kept a clean sheet, completely shut down any attempt to play in the second, where they spoiled effectively, clattering into clashes and clipping at heels.

Still, that is the sort of impediment a Bafana side of this much promise needs to be able to overcome.

SA lacked urgency and composure as the chips were laid down in the second half.

All the South Africans’ neatness from a week’s preparation with this youthful combination was good for nothing as far as points on the board were concerned.

The hosts now suffer the ignominy of going into the plate section – as they did last year in Rustenburg.

Bafana coach Stuart Baxter’s XI promised much, laid in a 4-3-3 with the Maritzburg United trio of Fortune Makaringe behind Lebohang Maboe and Siphesihle Ndlovu in the middle.

But up-front there was a question mark, with Luther Singh on the left and Gift Motupa in the middle but Ryan Moon seemingly wasted on the right.

The coach had identified Madagascar’s physicality and the pace of their wingers, Jaotomo Bourahim on the left and Tsito Razafindrasata on the right, as the dangers. It was a decent first half for the South Africans. Bafana created three clear chances, but frustratingly never came close enough with any of them.

If Madagascar had been cautious in the first half, they went into turtle mode in the second.

Bafana needed to score to take the pressure off. Aubrey Modiba collected a loose ball from Singh’s corner and cracked it against the left upright via the slightest of deflections.

In the shootout, Motjeka Madisha, substitute Lyle Foster, and Modiba were successful for Bafana. Substitute Jamie Webber hit the post before Singh had a weak effort saved by Jean Randrianasolo.

For Madagascar, Rabeson Fetranianina hit the post with their first kick. Then Andoniaina Andrianavalona, Rakotoharisoa Baggio, Andriamirado Andrianarimanana and Tobisoa Sandratrinianina all scored.

ý Marc Strydom was in Polokwane as a guest of Cosafa. – TimesLIVE