SOUTH Africa’s under-23 soccer team were beaten 2-1 by Angola in their pre-Olympic qualifying friendly at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Saturday. The South Africans looked firmly in control and seemed to be heading for an easy victory, but the tide turned sharply. The visitors, who have been in South Africa for four weeks preparing for their Olympic qualifier against Zimbabwe, handled the pressure well, and in the end the well-drilled Angolans’ discipline made the difference. Angola took the lead through Joao de Almeida, but the junior Bafana struck back when Nhleko equalised with a 20m snorter past keeper Luis Mamona Joao at the stroke of half-time.
The visitors sealed the match in the 80th minute when Cesar Muhondo dispossessed Fabian McCarthy and soft-footed the ball into the net. The Angolans scored another goal, a brilliant effort by substitute Mateus Andre, but the goal was denied by assistant referee Andrew Mdluli. South Africa meet Cameroon in their Olympic qualifier at the Vosloorus Stadium on February 19, and Angola face Zimbabwe in February 13.