Bafana salvage zero pride

DISMAL: KHUNE MISTAKE, MISSED PENALTY SUMS IT UP

Tau a shining light as Bafana finish bottom of Group D.

Bafana Bafana’s dismal 2018 Fifa World Cup qualification campaign ended in another defeat last night, Kara Mbodji’s stoppage time header earning Russia-bound Senegal a 2-1 win at the Stade Leopold Sedar Senghor in Dakar.

Stuart Baxter’s side missed a penalty through Themba Zwane before Percy Tau found an equaliser, but they finish rooted to the bottom of Group D, with just one win, one draw and four defeats.

Senegal had, of course, already qualified for the World Cup with their 2-0 win in Polokwane on Friday night, and Aliou Cisse rang the changes ahead of this game, which was delayed by a few minutes due to floodlight failure.

It was a scrappy first half, with Sibusiso Vilakazi going close for Bafana, his effort well saved by Teranga Lions debutant Alfred Gomis.

Senegal took the lead ten minutes into the second half as Itumeleng Khune made an uncharacteristic error. The Bafana ‘keeper raced out of his penalty area but couldn’t get to the ball, which was picked up instead by Senegal attacking midfielder Opa Nguette. Nguette composed himself and chipped a delightful finish over Khune and Bafana’s defenders as they rushed back to try and clear.

Bafana were handed a lifeline just after the hour mark as some sloppy Senegal play ceded possession and Zwane burst into the box, where he was brought down by Youssouf Sabaly. Zwane picked himself up, but put the penalty wide of target. Still, in the 65th minute, Bafana were level. Khune made up for his earlier error with a brilliant clearance to Keagan Dolly who found Percy Tau inside the area. Tau’s finish was superb, low and across Gomis into the corner of the net.

Bafana piled on the pressure as the game wore on, but it was Mbodji, with his late header, who found the winner for the home side, rising highest to head past Khune.