Bafana held by Angola
FLAT: SA GOALKEEPER WILLIAMS TO THANK FOR KEEPING THE SCORES LEVEL
Bafana Bafana’s international week ended with a whimper yesterday as they could only manage a 1-1 draw at home to Angola in an international friendly at Mbombela Stadium.
Bafana head coach Hugo Broos had hoped for a second victory to follow up from the 2-1 win over Mozambique at the same venue on Thursday, but in the end he had his captain and goalkeeper Ronwen Williams to thank for keeping the scores level in the second half.
Bafana started the match a little sloppily and Angola had the first good chance, Christovao Pacencia getting ahead of his man from a near post corner but firing wide.
South Africa came roaring back and Kgaogelo Sekgota almost got on the end of a Nyiko Mobbie cross before a rasping strike from Teboho Mokoena was just pushed away from goal by Angolan keeper and former Cape Town City man Hugo Marques.
Pacienca then almost stole in again from a corner and in the 20th minute, Bafana showed they hadn’t learned their lesson, as Ambrosini Salvador was allowed a free header from another setpiece and nodded into the net.
In the 24th minute, Sekgota was fouled and showed quick thinking as he latched onto a hastily taken free kick, the Kaizer Chiefs winger stinging the palms of Marques with a fierce strike.
Just after that, Sekgota won Bafana a penalty as the goalscorer Salvador caught him late in the box, though the Angolans vociferously protested the decision. Zakhele Lepasa stepped up and just about squeezed a low finish past Marques.
The rest of the half was rather scrappy, with some rather rough tackles, one of which forced Siyanda Xulu off with a fractured collarbone on the stroke of halftime.
Bafana dominated possession at the start of the second half, but despite a few promising openings, were unable to test Marques.
Instead, it was Angola who tested Williams, Pacencia firing in a shot that was pushed away by the Bafana captain.
And Williams had to make an even better save in the 68th minute, keeping out an effort from Pedro Miguel.
Bafana did have a sniff of a chance in the 80th minute as Mokoena surged into the area, but the ball got away from him and Marques was able to gather.
It was Williams who was tested again in the 83rd minute as substitute Deivi Vieira rifled in a shot that he managed to tip away.
Bafana created one last chance, as Khanyisa Mayo set up Bongokuhle Hlongwane, but the Minnesota United striker badly mis-kicked his effort.