A strike four minutes from the end by substitute striker Kabamba Musasa earned the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) a 1-0 win over Bafana Bafana in a hard fought World Cup Group 2 qualifier played at the Stade de Martys on Sunday.
There was no score at halftime.
Bafana had the better of a tense first 45 minutes. The South Africans should have had a penalty in the 13th minute when Benedict Vilakazi was pulled down inside the DRC penalty area by South African-based defender Dikulu Bageta.
But Bafana’s worst fears of home town decisions by Burundi referee Jean-Marie Hicuburundi were realised when the match official waved play on.
Bafana’s Portuguese based striker Benni McCarthy hit the post in the 19th minute after he latched onto a clever through ball from Vilakazi.
Bafana did well to keep the initiative and keep the DRC on the back foot for most of the opening 45 minutes. But then they started to allow the home side — roared on by an estimated 100 000 crowd — back into the game late in the half.
Bafana keeper Hans Vonk made his first save of the afternoon when he did well to stop a fiercely struck free kick from Illongo Ngasanya in the 40th minute.
But Bafana went to sleep in the second half. The DRC introduced fresh players in the form of Musasa and Mbala Mbata at the star of the second half.
Both players ran the tired looking defence ragged. However, Steven Pienaar and McCarthy had chances to put the South Africans in to the lead early on at the start of the second period. But wasted chances cost Bafana dearly.
With Bafana being pinned back into their half, Vonk again did well to stop Musasa from scoring in the 62nd minute.
Then 11 minutes later midfielder Pienaar did well in defence by heading off his goalline. But the pressure told and Bafana crumbled late in the game. Mbata waltzed past defender Neil Winstanley and Mbulelo Mabizela and set up Musasa with an open goal.
All the Chiefs star had to was to toe the ball over the goalline for the only goal of the match. – Sapa