OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Sunday 5.00pm.
BAFANA Bafana lost 4-0 against the United States on Saturday afternoon in their first-ever meeting to open the annual US Cup exhibition tournament.
Cobi Jones scored a pair of late first-half goals, ending a dry streak of only four in 13 games for the Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer this season.
The four goals were the most an American side has scored since Arena took over as manager in October 1998 and the most since a 4-2 World Cup qualifying victory over El Salvador on Nov. 16, 1997.
The South Africans appeared to be extremely disappointed. Defender Pierre Issa said there were too many mistakes. “For us it’s a big shock. We’ve been doing such good work since ’98.” Jones gave the United States the lead in the 36th minute. He took a touch pass from Chris Armas, drove across the top of the penalty area and raced past defender David Kannemeyer until finding space at the top of the arc, where he unleashed a left-footed shot that beat South African keeper Andre Arendse into the upper left corner.
Seven minutes later, Jones finished a chance that started on a corner. Arendse punched the corner to the top of the area, but US captain and Glasgow Rangers midfielder Claudio Reyna headed down the ball and into the path of Jones, who ran onto it and hit a low blast that Arendse was able to get his right hand to, but not stop.
Bafana Bafana, in preparation for the start of their World Cup qualifying campaign in July, were limited to long-range chances in the first half, with only Helman Mkhaelele troubling the American defence with any regularity.
“The first 45 minutes we played without our midfield. That was the difference,” South African forward Shaun Bartlett said. “They got service and Cobi scored two great goals.”
The South Africans have two games remaining in the US Cup, against Mexico on Wednesday in Dallas, and June 11 against Ireland in East Rutherford, New Jersey.