Cameroon snatch late draw with Banyana

BANYANA Banyana conceded a late penalty to let slip a goal advantage as they drew 1-1 with Cameroon in their African Games match in Brazzaville, Congo on Monday.

This was always going to be coach Vera Pauw’s toughest task of the tournament as the physically imposing West Africans dwarfed the South Africans.

The crisp passing of the South Africans showed immediately with good work down the right from Refiloe Jane setting up Leandra Smeda for a headed chance in the 13th minute.

Just minutes later the same combination caused Cameroon problems and Smeda’s acrobatic attempt wasn’t connected cleanly enough to cause the pink-clad ‘keeper any problems.

The second half saw Cameroon pressing more and they caused the hard-working SA defence some anxious moments. But all the while captain Janine van Wyk kept a calm head and she and fellow defender Noko Motlou put their bodies on the line on countless occasions.

One of those saw Van Wyk poleaxed by a flailing forearm to the chest and there were a few nervous moments before the lion-hearted skipper got up to take her place in defence.

The Banyana pressure had to tell though and finally it was Jane who slipped a super ball through to Smeda who needed no second invitation on this occasion and slotted calmly past the ‘keeper in the 71st minute.

The vocal Cameroon supporters were stunned into momentary silence, and Banyana blew at least three match-winning chances in quick succession, one of them when Amanda Dlamini’s looping free-kick struck the bar with the ‘keeper beaten.

Three minutes from time and the Cameroon calypso beat was on song again as the referee saw fit to award a penalty as Motlou was adjudged to have brought down a Cameroon player in the box.

This despite manager and team video analyst Shilene Booysens’ digital footage clearly showing that Matlou had cleanly won the ball.

Andile Dlamini went the right way in goal but was beaten by a low shot to and it was all square.

Understandably both skipper Van Wyk and coach Pauw were frustrated, despite holding their fancied opponents. “We had a good first half, I thought but again it was our final touch that let us down and we couldn’t score,” said Van Wyk. – ANA