Tau spares SA’s blushes

Percy Tau is the gift that keeps on giving for Bafana Bafana, last night netting a stoppage time goal to salvage some South African pride, as they earned a 1-1 draw with Paraguay in the Nelson Mandela Challenge at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Tau raced onto a superb through ball from substitute Thulani Serero to supply a cool finish that had Stuart Baxter punching the air on the touchline.

It was Tau who effectively earned Bafana a point against Nigeria on Saturday with a mesmeric piece of skill to set up Lebo Mothiba with the equaliser in a 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

Here, as on Saturday, Tau picked up the Man of the Match award, to complete a fine personal week, if it has been a mixed one for Bafana, with the side still needing a point against Libya away from home in March to qualify for Cameroon 2019.

Still, in South Africa’s case, if there is Tau, there has to be hope; the former Sundowns man proving himself time and time again as the star of his national team.

Baxter made seven changes from Bafana’s draw with Nigeria, keeping only captain Thulani Hlatshwayo, Tiyani Mabunda, Mothiba and Tau in his starting line-up. This gave a chance to the likes of SuperSport United’s young midfielder Teboho Mokoena and Orlando Pirates’ attacking star Vincent Pule.

Paraguay took the lead in the 32nd minute, with Darren Keet – in as a replacement for Itumeleng Khune – only able to tip a shot into the path of Federico Santander, who slotted into an empty net.

Pule then had a chance for Bafana, with Antony Silva in the Paraguay goal stopping his effort, but it was Paraguay who went even closer before half time, Cecilio Dominguez’s shot thundering off the woodwork.

Keet was replaced by Ronwen Williams at the break, with Baxter also bringing on Fortune Makaringe, Buhle Mkhwanazi and Dino Ndlovu, for Mabunda, Motjeka Madisha and Mothiba.

There were few chances for either side in the second half, but in the 71st minute, Christian Paredes broke free on the counter, only for Williams to make a save. Bafana finally tested Silva in the 77th minute but Pule’s effort was straight at the Paraguay ‘keeper.

Tau, however, wasn’t to be denied. After having one effort correctly ruled out for offside with about four minutes on the clock, in stoppage time he sprinted clear again, latched onto a brilliant pass from Serero to equalise.