Bafana beat Botswana in Chan tie

SOUTH Africa edged out Botswana 1-0 in a 2018 African Nations Championship (Chan) qualifier Southern Zone secondleg match at the Moruleng Stadium on Saturday.

As a result, Bafana Bafana won 3-0 on aggregate and they will now meet either Zambia or Swaziland in the next round, while the Zebras bow out of the qualifying campaign.

Bafana Bafana got off to the best possible start as they broke the deadlock just 13 minutes into the encounter.

Sipho Mbule beautifully combined with Ryan Moon, who beat Botswana goalkeeper Mwampule Masule to make the score 1-0 to SA.

The Kaizer Chiefs striker had also scored in the first-leg clash and he nearly doubled Bafana’s lead in the 17th minute, but this time Masule denied him.

The hosts were dominating possession with Bafana’s two frontmen Moon and Bonginkosi Ntuli keeping the Zebras defence very busy.

The visitor’s defence which was marshalled by Simisani Mathumo was struggling to contain the Bafana attackers midway through the first-half.

Moon should have made it 2-0 on the day and 4-0 on aggregate to SA towards the break.

However, the promising marksman’s first touch let him down after being sent forward and the Zebras survived a scare.

Botswana managed to contain the hosts until match referee Osiase Koto, who hails from Lesotho, blew the half-time whistle with Bafana leading 1-0.

The hosts began the second-half brightly, but Township Rollers goalkeeper Masule pulled off two good saves to deny Moon in the first 10 minutes of the second-half.

Botswana coach David Bright had to find a way to unlock the Bafana defence and he made a change in the 66th minute, introducing Kabelo Seakanyeng.

Bafana suffered a blow 10 minutes later as defender Mothobi Mvala went down injured and he was replaced by Sandile Mthethwa as the Zebras pressed for the equaliser.

Bafana goalkeeper Boafela Pule, who had a quiet first half, had to be alert in the 83rd minute when he came out to gather a through pass before Botswana attackers could pounce.

Botswana striker Hendrick Moyo’s effort narrowly missed the target in the closing stages of the match and ultimately, SA emerged 1-0 winners.

SA won the tie 3-0 on aggregate - having won 2-0 in the first-leg clash which was played in Francistown, Botswana last weekend. — SuperSport.com