BANYANA TACKLE SWEDEN
Ellis’ team give as good as they get against Sweden in Albertina Sisulu Challenge
BANYANA BANYANA took a giant leap forward in their preparation for the World Cup in France later this year through a well-deserved goalless draw with fellow finalists Sweden in the Albertina Sisulu Challenge at Cape Town Stadium yesterday.
Ellis’ team were much more composed in the opening stanza yesterday compared to Saturday, particularly with stand-in captain Refiloe Jane slotting further back into a more centralised midfield role. Along with the hard-working Mamello Makhabane, the Canberra FC star took control of the midfield for Banyana as they controlled possession during the first quarter.
With the majority of the play occurring between the middle third of the field, neither team were able to create any clear-cut goalscoring opportunities in the first 45 minutes, with Banyana’s best chance falling to Rhoda Malaudzi on the edge of the Swedish box after good interlinking play between her and Thembi Kgatlana. Malaudzi, though, could unfortunately not direct her shot on target and the ball fizzed past the Swedish upright.
The second half was certainly more enterprising with both teams pouring forward in search of an opening goal. On came Leandra Smeda for the hosts, adding further bite to the Banyana engine room.
But it was the Swedes that had the first shot on goal with Julia Zigiotti-Olme striking from distance that goalkeeper Andile Dlamini did well to get down to. Banyana, though, responded almost immediately when Thembi Kgatlana found herself in some space on the edge of the Swedish area before unleashing a solid shot, albeit with her weaker right foot.
Ellis hauled off Kgatlana for Jermaine Seoposenwe. The latter made an immediate impact when her cross found Linda Motlhalo in space on the right flank only for the Houston Dash striker to send her volley into the stands.
The visitors, though, had their own chances to snatch a late winner through substitute Madelen Janogy and defender Hanna Glas, who hit the crossbar with a rasping shot.
However, the last chance of the match fell to Seoposenwe who just could not curl her free kick into the top right-hand corner which would have propelled Banyana to what would have been a most memorable victory.