OWN CORRESPONDENT, Kumasi | Sunday 11.00pm.
BAFANA Bafana held on with 10 men for most of the second half to defeat co-hosts Ghana 1-0 in a tense African Nations Cup quarter-final in Kumasi on Sunday.
Siyabonga Nomvete scored the only goal after 42 minutes and Bafana Bafana had Eric Tinkler sent off just 120 seconds into the second half at Asokwa Stadium.
An electric atmosphere in the near-full stadium greeted the teams with four-time champions Ghana seeking revenge for a three-goal drubbing in the 1996 semi-finals.
Bafana displayed grim determination from the kick-off. Star Ghana striker Kwame Ayew was carried off as the exchanges became rough and he was back on the pitch in time to get a half-chance inside the penalty area only to be let down by a poor first touch.
The first chance of a match in which both teams retreated at the slightest hint of trouble fell to Nomvete after 14 minutes, but he could not connect with a Quinton Fortune cross.
Nomvete had a much better opportunity to put Bafana Bafana ahead midway through the half only to react slowly when unmarked inside the penalty area and Emmanuel Kuffour made a hasty clearance.
Leading Nations Cup scorer Shaun Bartlett broke down the right and found Nomvete unmarked, but the young Kaizer Chiefs striker once again was found wanting and fired wide.
Justice was finally done as half-time approached when Bartlett controlled the ball on a bumpy pitch near the corner flag and his pin-point cross was headed into the net by Nomvete.
There was a dramatic start to the second half with midfield hard man Tinkler being sent off by Tunisian referee Mourad Daami for a second booking.
Tinkler caught Ayew from behind and there was a brief delay before he knew his fate while Daami checked with the fourth officiall whether he had cautioned the South African earlier.
Ghana sensed a numerical advantage could turn the game in their favour and they twice came close to levelling when Samuel Kuffour headed against the crossbar and Ayew had another header brilliantly pushed away by Arendse.
Nomvete continued to create and waste chances, firing into the side netting after intercepting a quick throw-in, while Samuel Kuffour and Johnson were woefully off target from free kicks.
Fortune forced a good save from Kingston off a free kick and Pierre Issa was lucky to escape unpunished after a professional foul on Ayew as the crowd grew increasing restless.
Sam Johnson did go into the black book, receiving a caution for deliberate hand ball as Bafana showed calmness and authority in defence under sporadic pressure. — AFP