Banyana, Angola shoot blanks
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BANYANA Banyana may have drawn their second group stage match against Angola at a sticky Gelvandale Stadium in Gqeberha yesterday afternoon, but they are still on course to qualify for the quarter-final of the Cosafa Women's Championship.
The South Africans are at the summit in Group A with four points – thanks to a win over Malawi and a draw with the Angolans. They are followed by Malawi who are on three points after defeating Mozambique in the other group stage match.
Banyana, though, will know their fate on Monday when they clash with Mozambique in the last group stage match. Banyana are defending champions of the regional tournament after claiming it for the last four years in a row.
After a nervy ending to their Group A opener against Malawi, who scored the consolation goal late on Tuesday afternoon, Banyana were eager to hit top gear from the outset against the Angolans and consolidate their lead later in the match.
But that wasn’t going to be easy, considering the fact that coach Desiree Ellis had left out the spine of her team – Gabriella Salgado, Robyn Moodaly and Janine van Wyk. The trio’s absence was evident as Banyana struggled early on.
Captain of the day Mamello Makhabane orchestrated proceedings from the heart of the midfield with some silky touches going forward. But perhaps South Africa’s first real chance of the game came after the half-hour mark from close range.
Left back Sibulele Holweni found herself with acres of space on the edge of the box before attempting a high shot with her weaker foot but that sailed inches wide of goal. But Banyana continued to press in numbers in quest of a lead.
And it was last match’s goal scorer Noxolo Cesane who had Banyana’s second shot at goal. But she, too, couldn’t find the breakthrough as her pin-point shot was parried away for a corner-kick by Angolan goalkeeper Sandrina Antonio.
After the two teams went into the interval deadlocked, they came into the second stanza guns blazing. But it was the South Africans who had the first shot on target, with Melinda Kgadiete hitting her close-range shot against Sandrina.
But the Angolans nearly punished Banyana for their wasteful antics up front as the lanky striker Cristina Maluky saw her flicked header towards goal saved off the line by the high jumping goalkeeper Kaylin Swart who had a very quiet first half.
In the end, though, the two teams couldn’t be separated in regulation time as they bagged a point each. Banyana remain at the summit of the standings with four points after two games, while Angola have two points – with a game to play.