U23s squeak through to semi-finals

(0)1 Motupa 66

(1)1 Thaba-Ntso 19 THE manner in which this Bafana Bafana side, made up of national Under-23 players, progressed to the semi-final of the Cosafa Cup at Sam Nujoma Stadium in Windhoek yesterday would have tested your philosophical inclinations on whether you see the glass as half-full or half-empty. Once again the side’s defensive frailties were exposed, which saw them forced to come from behind.

But once again their attack bailed them out, taking the match to penalties, where goalkeeper Reyaad Pieterse saved two of them. Deolin Mekoa scored the winning goal from the spot kick.

They didn’t start well after captain Rivaldo Coetzee missed the opening penalty, but they came back to win.

Lesotho’s goal came when Jane Thabo-Ntso squeezed past Coetzee and Tshepo Rikhotso scored with an audacious chip that beat Pieterse, who was off his line.

It took the side’s trickery to find an equaliser, with Tebogo Moerane coming up with the assist after beating two defenders.

The left-back, who played in a more advanced position, delivered an inch-perfect cross that Gift Motupa just had to direct to the back of the net.

The night ended in disappointment for the striker when he was sent off, but the team has set up a meeting on Wednesday with either Zambia or Swaziland.