A bungling South Africa lost 3-1 to a majestic Ghana team in an Olympic soccer qualifier at the Olen Park Stadium in Potchefstroom on Saturday.
Ghana striker Prince Tagoe scored twice and midfielder Obed Ansah netted a splendid goal to join Nigeria at the top of the three-team group competing for a place at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
SA midfielder Lance Davids netted three minutes from time but it was little consolation for the hosts who practically had no chance of making it to the tournament.
Amaglug-glug now have to play Nigeria and Ghana — this time in their backyards and only the over-optimistic supporter can think that Bafana’s feeder team can even get a point.. SA drew 1-1 with Nigeria who are the group leaders and also drew with Ghana.
A simple pass through the middle from Ansah set Tagoe free and the striker easily lost his marker before blasting the ball past Itumeleng Khune. Seven minutes later the lethal striker was again free on the edge of the area as he latched onto a long ball which he blasted past Khune with his left foot.
Coach Steve Komphela laid the blame on his defence for the loss.
”Where did we go wrong?” Komphela asked before adding, ”Our defenders could not cope with their strikers and they made the best of their chances. We could not contain them in a one-on-one basis as well.”
Orlando Pirates striker Lebohang Mokoena and Mamelodi Sundowns forward Lerato Chabangu were as futile in attack as their teammates in defence.
Numerous chances were squandered by the ill-matched pair but strangely Komphela replaced left-winger Bernard Parker with Bidvest Wits’s Calvin Sosibo four minutes before the break.
SA did not show the urgency of a team down by two goals as they started the second half. SuperSport United winger Dane Klaite looked on gloomily as his teammates wasted their chances.
The Black Meteors, as Ghana are known, strolled through the second half as SA struggled to get close to the goalmouth. The hosts upped the tempo in the final 15 minutes throwing everyone forward, but it was in vain.
Ansah showed the likes of Chabangu and Davids how to finish when he was given time to pick a spot in Khune’s goal and fired home. The midfielder put the ball in the top right corner of the hapless keeper’s goal from 20 yards out to bury any hopes SA had of making a comeback.
Davids struck with less than four minutes on the clock but his effort was too late to make a difference. – Sapa